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T h e U n o f f i c i a l
C i r q u e d u S o l e i l N e w s l e t t e r
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E X P A N D E D I S S U E
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VOLUME 12, NUMBER 11 November 2012 ISSUE #106e
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Welcome to the latest edition of Fascination, the Unofficial Cirque
du Soleil Newsletter.
Between ZARKANA's move from Radio City Music Hall in New York City
to its new home at ARIA Las Vegas and World's Away 3D premiering at
the Tokyo Film Festival to the announcement of LE BEST OF 2 and
AMALUNA CDs and more on CirqueWeek 2012, Cirque has certainly kept
us busy. Of course weve kept ourselves busy too...
Last month we featured a chat with Bill Rosemann of Marvel about the
creation of the KÀ by Cirque du Soleil #1 Comic Book. We also
reached out to the staff of KÀ involved in providing Marvel with
reference materials for insight into how the comic was created. We
were put in touch with Marie-Hélène Gagnon who had previously worked
for Cirque with Saltimbanco in 2000 and Quidam in 2002 as Artistic
Coordinator, and has been KÀs Artistic Director for the past six
years. In the process we learned more about the comic, its purpose,
and the future of our heroes left clinging to life on the storm-
tossed page!
But the news hasn't always been fun and games. Late last month we
received very sad news out of Mystère: Francois Dupuis, "Big Baby"
character in the show, had passed in his sleep. For many Dupuis was
the face of Mystère, and as one of its signature characters (and one
who'd been with the troupe since the very beginning), he will be
missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.
Amidst this sad news Mystère marks two milestones back-to-back: the
first, its 9,000th performance, will be celebrated on November 27th
at 7:00pm. The second, its 19th anniversary, will be celebrated on
Christmas Eve. In honor of this unbelievable milestone, weve decided
to take a look back at Mystère - from its genesis through how the show
is presented today in a two-part exposé. In Part 1 (this issue) we
start with the shows creation, discuss the trials and tribulations
of getting the theater built, and in creating the shows esoteric
narrative.
And in one final indulgence: a rather weird find on eBay recently -
a CD of music intended to be used in advertising.
As always we've got the latest news items posted to Fascination! Web
and, of course, updates to Cirque's tour schedule.
So, let's get started.
We're off and running again!
Join us on the web at:
< www.cirquefascination.com >
Realy Simple Syndication (RSS) Feed (News Only):
< http://www.cirquefascination.com/?feed=rss2 >
- Ricky "Richasi" Russo
===========
CONTENTS
===========
o) Cirque Buzz -- News, Rumours & Sightings
o) Itinéraire -- Tour/Show Information
* BigTop Shows -- Under the Grand Chapiteau
* Arena Shows -- In Stadium-like venues
* Resident Shows -- Performed en Le Théâtre
o) Outreach -- Updates from Cirque's Social Widgets
* Club Cirque -- This Month at CirqueClub
* Networking -- Posts on Facebook, G+, & YouTube
o) Compartments -- A Peek Behind the Curtain
* Didyaknow? -- Facts About Cirque
* Historia -- Cirque Company History
* Odyssea -- Cirque Tour History
o) Fascination! Features
*) "KÀ-MIC KÀ-NVERSATION, Part 2: Keeping the Integrity
An Exclusive chat with Marie-Hélène Gagnon,
Artistic Director of KÀ"
By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA)
* "Mystère du temps, Part 1:
Celebrating 9,000 Performances"
By: Ricky Russo - Atlanta, Georgia (USA)
* "Music For Advertising?"
By: Ricky Russo - Atlanta, Georgia (USA)
* "ZARKANA, Now in Las Vegas!" [EXPANDED]
By: Robin Leach, A Special Reprint
o) Subscription Information
o) Copyright & Disclaimer
=======================================================================
CIRQUE BUZZ -- NEWS, RUMOURS & SIGHTINGS
=======================================================================
More on Cirque's Vegas Nightclub
{Oct.04.2012}
----------------------------------------------
Robin Leach via the Las Vegas Sun has more on the new Cirque du
Soleil themed night club hitting Mandalay Bay next year:
# # #
We've learned that Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte's
nearly 50,000-square-foot, three-tiered club at Mandalay Bay
will open next spring and hold more than 2,000 people. DJs will
have their own moving booth that travels around the venue, up,
down and sideways. A first for Las Vegas, although as we
reported earlier already in place at Guy's favorite club in
Ibiza with its five different music-style rooms. Several
lighting and theatrical innovations at Pacha will be wilder at
Mandalay Bay.
Mandalay Bay executives also have confirmed our prior story that
in this club- theater combination, Cirque performers will have
rigging to permit acrobatic performances from the ceiling to the
floor against a special-effects backdrop wall of floating and
changing scenery. Cirque additionally at Mandalay has the mid-
May opening of the Michael Jackson show, so don't be surprised
if the theater and the nightclub premiere simultaneously.
# # #
Read the original article here:
< http://goo.gl/WAMmH >
{SOURCE: Las Vegas Sun}
ARIA Theater Transforms
{Oct.08.2012}
----------------------------------------------
The theater at Aria is undergoing a transformation. In less than
a month it will be home to Cirque du Soleil's "Zarkana." From
February 2010 through August 2012, the theater was home to
Cirque's "Viva Elvis." Rehearsals for "Zarkana" don't start
until about the second week of October, but until then there's
plenty of action taking place in the theater. Cirque du Soleil
gave media outlets a sneak peek at the show's progress at a
press event this past week. Some highlights from Caroline
Fontein's article for Vegas.com:
# # #
The show's production manager Robert Lemoine explained that
there are several new parameters being implemented into the show
in Vegas. One of the primary changes with the show at Aria is
the high-wire rigging. Since Aria's theater doesn't have the
same orchestra pit that was designed for the show at Radio City,
the production team developed a different rig system that
they're premiering at Aria.
"It's one of the biggest trapeze rigs in the world that we're
putting in here," said Lemoine.
Because of Aria's modest theater size, compared to Radio City's
almost 6,000-seat showroom, guests who see Zarkana in Vegas will
be even more immersed in the fantastical world of Cirque du
Soleil that at other venues.
"It's the most intimate of all venues we've been in, and it's
the biggest version that we're playing here in Vegas. So I think
with the mix of both, I'm very eager to see this come to life
and to have people at this proximity, in this theater, get the
show," said Lemoine.
The Vegas version of "Zarkana" also includes some changes to the
show's original music and multimedia elements. Some of the most
outstanding special effects in this show are its use of
projected images and LED screens. The staging features multiple
layers of these effects to create what at first looks like a
deteriorated, abandoned theater that slowly comes back to life
as the show progresses.
# # #
The production manager also alerted media to the load-in time
line, which is as follows:
# # #
Lemoine explained the show's timeline until its first preview
performance on Nov. 1:
Week of Oct. 7: Zarkana's physical structure is in place.
Lemoine and his team meet with the designers to program most of
the images, lights, sound, multimedia and make sure that all of
the props and scenic elements are in place and that the
automation is running properly.
Week of Oct. 14: The artists get on stage, test out and get
acclimated to each of their systems at the new theater. From the
trapeze artists to the performers on the wheel of death, they
all make sure that their systems and their acts and environments
are comfortable and operating properly.
Week of Oct. 21: The performers start staging and rehearsal with
the director up until dress rehearsal on Oct. 31.
# # #
Check out the original article here:
< http://goo.gl/G2FMW >
{SOURCE: Vegas.com}
Pre-Order "Le Best Of 2? CD NOW!
{Oct.11.2012}
----------------------------------------------
Cirque du Soleil presents its latest compilation album "LE BEST
OF 2" including music released between 2005 and 2012. The album
also features the Cirque du Soleil Facebook fan favorite track:
Pageant from the show KÀ. LE BEST OF 2 continues the theme found
on the popular first edition LE BEST OF, released in 2004.
Tracks:
01. MAGIC CEREMONY I 3:28 (Amaluna)
02. pearl 4:06 (Kooza)
03. blue silk 4:37 (ZED)
04. anneaux 5:43 (Corteo)
05. Flying Scarlett 4:43 (Iris)
06. qué viyéra 4:42 (TOTEM)
07. flying with the birds 4:12 (CRISS ANGEL Believe)
08. NOI 4:15 (Zaia)
09. secret samba luv 3:12 (OVO)
10. pageant 2:46 (KÀ)
11. beyond the clouds 3:32 (Wintuk)
12. piece of heaven 4:55 (Zumanity)
13. omé yo kanoubé 4:41 (TOTEM)
Total playing time: 55:00
The CD releases via Amazon on November 6, 2012 and lists for
$16.76 but you might be able to get it sooner from Cirque's
Online Boutique listed for $15.00 USD!
Amazon: < http://goo.gl/ZiDso >
Cirque: < http://goo.gl/ctWf6 >
{SOURCE: Amazon, Cirque du Soleil}
Pre-Order Amaluna CD on Amazon Now!
{Oct.11.2012}
----------------------------------------------
There hasn't been an official announcement, but Amazon is
already taking pre-orders for the upcoming CD release for
AMALUNA.
Release date to Amazon is November 19, 2012 but it may release
sooner on iTunes or the Cirque Online Store (however, the title
is not up for pre-order there as of yet).
Looks like we're going to have a Cirque-y media Christmas!
Get your Pre-Order here:
< http://goo.gl/uhluj >
{SOURCE: Amazon}
CIRQUE WEEK: Uncover the Exciting World of
Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas!
{Oct.12.2012}
----------------------------------------------
Back by popular demand, Cirque du Soleil presents the third
annual CIRQUE WEEK, offering fans the experience of a lifetime
with access to an 8-day series of exclusive events. Cirque du
Soleil is known worldwide for its unique entertainment
experiences featuring high flying acrobats, mystical characters
and state-of-the-art technology. CIRQUE WEEK offers fans the
opportunity to get an all-access look into how these
extraordinary shows come to life nightly. CIRQUE WEEK packages
range from $150 for a two-show ticket package to $540 which
includes tickets to all seven Cirque du Soleil productions in
Las Vegas.
"We are excited to offer fans CIRQUE WEEK for the third year,"
said Jordan Fiksenbaum, vice president of marketing and public
relations for Cirque du Soleil. "This year we have added new and
exclusive events different from what was presented in the past,
making it possible for return guests to dive deeper into the
world of Cirque du Soleil while still allowing new fans to
discover the magic for the first time."
All packages offer access to the exclusive CIRQUE WEEK events
including:
Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away
From the big top to the big screen, Academy Award®-nominated
director Andrew Adamson and visionary filmmaker James Cameron
invite audiences to embark on a journey through the astonishing
and dreamlike world of Cirque du Soleil's Las Vegas shows. The
immersive 3D technology will allow audiences to leap, soar, swim
and dance with performers. This once-in-a-lifetime experience
specifically for CIRQUE WEEK is presented by Paramount Pictures
and James Cameron. The movie, written and directed by Andrew
Adamson, will open in theaters across the U.S. and Canada on
December 21, 2012. *Event capacity is limited.
"O" - Behind the Water
Guests are given a behind-the-scenes look at what makes the
master machine of water operate with a tour throughout the
backstage areas, including above and beneath the water and all
places in between. Tour stops include getting an up close and
personal look with major show props, visiting the areas behind
the curtain and offering guests a special souvenir from the
show. *Event is capped at 100 guests.
LOVE Sound and Set Demonstration
LOVE will offer Cirque Week guests the chance to hear The
Beatles music like never before, featuring a state-of-the-art
sound demonstration through more than 6,300 custom-made
speakers. In addition to the demonstration, guests will have a
chance to get up close and personal with some of their favorite
scenes from the show. During this event, fans will have an
exclusive opportunity to interact with set pieces used in every
performance of LOVE.
Mystère Chinese Poles Demonstration and Q&A
Mystère recently added two new acts and nearly 20 performers to
the show. Members of our Artistic and Technical teams will talk
about what was like to make major changes to an existing show,
and new artists will talk about making the transition from one
Cirque du Soleil show to another. Guests will also have the
chance to enjoy a demonstration of the updated Chinese Poles act
at Mystère.
Go Behind the Scenes with Zumanity
Guests will have the opportunity to observe a training of one of
the show's signature acts from a vantage point seldom seen by
the outside world, followed by a Q&A session with the artists
and crew in the gorgeous Zumanity Theatre. Audience
participation at Zumanity is always highly encouraged!
Believe "Magic with Maestro"
Join Criss' right hand man, Maestro, along with his show
sidekicks Slim, Lars, and Luigi as they give guests an
interactive look at their favorite comedic magic tricks! Guest
are also invited to take a tour through the newly updated lobby
experience, which includes memorabilia from Criss' days in
magic, including true-to-life sized custom choppers, a dunk tank
and even the infamous bed of nails. The visit is wrapped by a
panel discussion from show staff that give a look at the various
changes and new illusions that have been incorporated into the
show since its 2008 opening.
KÀ by Cirque du Soleil and Marvel Entertainment Bring the Epic
Story from Stage to Page with All-New Comic Book
KÀ by Cirque du Soleil and Marvel Entertainment have teamed up
to tell the heroic journey of KÀ through an all-new, collectible
comic book: KÀ #1. Cirque Week will offer fans an exclusive
copy of the Comic Book and the chance to ask the team a series
of questions about the collaboration and creation of the book
and get photos with some of the characters who have been
immortalized by Marvel.
Zarkana 101
Learn the history of Zarkana from those who have traveled the
world with the show. Learn what it takes to move a massive set
across the planet and what it was like to perform in some of the
most prestigious theatres - Radio City Music Hall and Kremlin
State Palace Theatre.
Headquarters
Bellagio will be the host hotel for this year's CIRQUE WEEK
headquarters. The lavish Lily Bar & Lounge will be the
gathering place for CIRQUE WEEK attendees and will be open from
11am-2pm daily.
To purchase tickets or for more information, visit:
< www.cirquedusoleil.com/cirqueweek >.
{SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil Press Room}
Stream "Le Best Of 2? CD Now!
{Oct.17.2012}
----------------------------------------------
Get Cirque's latest compilation album LE BEST OF 2 before
everyone else through their online store now!
In stores everywhere November 6!
"LE BEST OF 2" comprised of music released between 2005 and
2012. From modern rock sounds to full orchestral scores, the
album features composers like BOB & BILL, Simon Carpentier,
Berna Ceppas, Violaine Corradi, Jean-François Côté, René Dupéré,
Danny Elfman and Eric Serra.
The album also features the Cirque du Soleil Facebook fan
favorite track: Pageant - a song from the show KÀ. LE BEST OF 2
continues the theme found on the popular first edition LE BEST
OF, released in 2004.
If you're a fan, this is your long-awaited collection of
favorites as well as an opportunity for everyone to experience
some of Cirque's finest music.
Pre-order the album today! (And stream it until you can own
it!): < http://goo.gl/5wPCE >
Exclusive free song download!
As Cirque's gift to their fans, the Cirque du Soleil Facebook
fan favorite track - Pageant, a song from the show KÀ - is
available free for download for a limited time. How to get your
promo code: You will find the promo code on the official Cirque
du Soleil Facebook page and on the Cirque Club news section!
{SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil}
Meet Saltimbanco's Corey Hartung [EXPANDED]
{Jul.12.2012}
----------------------------------------------
Cirque du Soleil wasn't born in a burst of color and movement
with multiple touring shows and 5,000 employees worldwide. At
the start, in 1984, there was a team of about 70 pulling the
company into existence for a Quebec festival. The juggernaut was
still growing in 1992, when it launched "Saltimbanco," a
signature dreamlike show set in an imaginary urban landscape
with diverse inhabitants.
Today, with 20 years under its belt, "Saltimbanco" is Cirque's
longest-running touring show as it gets set to call it quits in
December.
Corey Hartung will be on stage for that final bow in Montreal,
as she has been for the past two years. The 10-time All-American
gymnast from the University of Florida went to Scull Elementary
School in Irwin and Norwin Middle School East before training in
Maryland and competing on the U.S. National team through high
school. She was serving as a student coach during her senior
year as a Florida Gator when the Cirque opportunity came along.
She graduated and headed to Montreal in July 2010 to begin
training, transitioning from top-flight NCAA gymnastics
competitions across the USA to performing in character on stages
worldwide.
"There were six months of training and acting classes where you
really open up and learn a lot about yourself," she said. "It's
a lot more acting and performing and trying to share with the
audience the story of the show. So it's the whole entertainment
side, very different from gymnastics."
The performers usually get two weeks off for every 10 weeks of
work, which is not always time enough to get to whichever
country they may call home. For Ms. Hartung, the travel has
become a blur of cities and countries, from South Africa to
France to Thailand -- she was just off a plane from the latter
when she visited Pittsburgh in late August. Back in Irwin, she
stays with her brother or sister and spends time with her nieces
and nephews.
She has seen so many exotic places and global landmarks that it
seems a bit commonplace at this point, something that's hard for
anyone not constantly on the move to understand.
"It's hard for them to relate to what I'm doing just by telling
them over the phone or over Skype," she explained. "It's like,
if I'm seeing something in Thailand right now, I'm thinking, I
wish I could show my mom, but she'll never understand it or be
able to see it. They'll never know."
She was excited to be back in her hometown, spending time with
her best friend and going to see the Steelers at Heinz Field,
instead of catching up with her favorite team online or in a
sports bar. She wore her jersey to a Steelers bar in Gainesville
every Sunday she could make it to watch games throughout her
college years.
Ms. Hartung has lived mostly out of a suitcase for the past two
years.
"My parents live in Tampa now. So I have a place there with
them, a room with all of my stuff. I guess you'd say my address
is Tampa now," she said.
On stage, you can spot Ms. Hartung in the opening number,
"Adagio," in which she plays the Mama character, which she
describes as being more about choreography than acting. She gets
to be more playful as Dandy, one of 20 Baroque characters in the
show that represents the diverse residents of the "Saltimbanco"
metropolis, each with distinct personalities and costumes.
"Dandy is one of the harder ones to act," she said. "It's a mix
between a male and a female character. In our acting classes,
they would tell me, if you want to think of how to act this
character, think of Johnny Depp in 'Pirates of the Caribbean.'
That's just a fun time onstage -- you're always upbeat and
there's never a dull moment.
"You can never relax on that stage, but there's a lot of freedom
in our show, which is different than any other Cirque show. ...
If we're having a sad day we can act that, but if we're in a
good mood and have too much energy because we had a coffee
before going on, we can run around and act that, too. It's
amazing the freedom we have on stage."
Cirque du Soleil took some freedoms when it titled the show
"Saltimbanco," which in Italian means "to jump on a bench."
"Salto" is a somersault in Italian; "banco" or bench here is
meant to mean a temporary stage for performers.
Sounds just right for someone with a gymnastics background. In
fact, Cirque recruits from the cream of college gymnasts,
including fellow Gator and now cast mate Nicola Willis.
"I didn't know much about Cirque before I started," said Ms.
Hartung, who had never seen a Cirque show when she was
recruited. "I graduated in sports management, but I really
didn't know what kind of job I wanted to do. I like more the
creative and artistic side of things. So maybe advertising or
management for some athletic team or university is what I would
be doing now. But I really like Cirque, and I hope to continue
with it for a few more years."
Ms. Hartung's artistic and gymnastics skills have come into play
in "Adagio," which is described by Cirque as: "Inspired by a
discipline called acrosport, this act features three acrobats
whose bodies meld together to create startling figures. A show
of strength, flexibility, balance and grace, this act evokes
birth, the family unit and the fragility of life in today's
metropolis."
"In my opening number, it's a set choreographed thing, with a
lot of dancing and movement. So my gymnastics helped a lot," Ms.
Hartung said. "I do a lot of flips and turns, but the dancing is
similar to what I did in gymnastics. As a Baroque character, we
jump off a Russian swing -- we trained in Montreal to swing on
this huge platform and how to land correctly."
Each Cirque artist applies his or her own intricate makeup.
After a learning and critique phase, performers are supplied
with a step-by-step picture book.
"After doing it so many times, you look in the mirror, and bum,
bum, bum [and she's ready to go on]. My Baroque makeup used to
take two hours, now it's 45 to 50 minutes."
Taking it off? "One minute and you're done!"
In every stop, audiences show their appreciation in different
ways. Ms. Hartung said they are louder in European countries
than, say, Russia. "It depends on the culture," she said.
Ms. Hartung was accompanied to Pittsburgh by publicist Vanessa
Napoli, who explained what "Saltimbanco" has meant to the Cirque
brand.
"The show has achieved many milestones for Cirque du Soleil over
20 years, including opening new markets and introducing new
audiences like South Africa to Cirque. Also, Istanbul, so many.
So it's a huge part of the Cirque history," she said.
Ms. Hartung said it's an honor playing a part in that long-term
success, and she hopes to continue with the organization.
"I don't know what it will be like in Montreal when it ends, but
it's an honor to be a part of something so big, and 20 years is
a long time to be here."
{ SOURCE: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette }
Hollywood Reporter Reviews "World's Away"
{Oct.21.2012}
----------------------------------------------
TOKYO - Clown-phobics may run screaming but, along with an
omnipresent wild-haired joker, the world's most famous acrobatic
troupe delivers a feast of surreal beauty and moments of breath-
catching wonder in the skillfully staged 3D film Cirque du
Soleil: Worlds Away.
Basically a greatest-hits extravaganza tenuously linked by a
love-story narrative, the Tokyo International Film Festival's
opening-night film relies on Shrek and Narnia director Andrew
Adamson's use of slow-mo, close-ups and inventive camera angles
to smooth the transition from big top to big screen.
The undeniably spectacular skills of the Cirque du Soleil
performers lose little in translation, although the intimate
moments work decidedly better, as cinema-goers catch each slap
of the aerialists' mid-air hand grasps and every droplet of
water splashed. A gloriously elastic female gymnast doing solo
back-flips inside an oversized brandy glass is a highlight.
With more than 100 million tickets sold across six continents
for Cirque du Soleil stage shows, the brand certainly has reach.
The new medium opens the experience up to an even wider
audience, although families may balk at what is essentially an
experimental art film. Paramount Pictures is giving the James
Cameron executive-produced film a high-profile holiday release
stateside on Dec 21 following its theatrical release in Japan
Nov 9, before rolling it out to other territories early next
year.
The story opens with something that would never happen at a live
Cirque du Soleil performance - a fall.
Mia (Erica Linz), a petite outsider visiting a down-at-heel old-
timey circus (the kind with sword-swallowers and bearded
ladies), is drawn to one of the performers. He's a trapeze
artist simply known as The Aerialist (Igor Zaripov) and when she
catches his eye mid-air, he breaks concentration and plunges to
the ground.
The sand of the rink gives way and she follows him down the
rabbit hole, as it were, into a parallel universe where she
meets that madly prancing clown (John Clarke). He escorts her
through a series of fantastical realms populated by trampolining
superheroes, riderless tricycles and giant double-jointed
spiders from the company's Las Vegas shows, including O,
Mystere, Believe and Viva Elvis (blessedly, no Michael Jackson -
The Immortal World Tour, as that would be just weird.)
As she wanders through these dreamscapes clutching a poster of
The Aerialist to her chest, Linz alternates eye-widening with
theatrical brow-furrowing. Let's just say that as an actress,
she's a good acrobat, which is made clear in the gorgeously
romantic finale.
The brow-furrowing is understandable, though, as, like most
abstractedly mystical Cirque stage shows, the action follows the
logic of a dream.
Bland, synthetic world muzak rotates with peppier tunes from
Elvis and The Beatles, adding to the sense of disconnect between
the differently themed vignettes, which Adamson shot at various
Las Vegas stage shows.
Still, the unifying accomplishment is in the giddy acrobatics,
sleek sensuality and heart-stopping derring-do of the
performers, as well as the constantly sumptuous, transportingly
immersive cinematography.
Read the original article here:
< http://goo.gl/FnZWA >
{SOURCE: Hollywood Reporter}
Daniel Lamarre to Receive Honorary Degree
{Oct.23.2012}
----------------------------------------------
When McGill University bestows honorary degrees at its fall
convocation on Oct. 31, one of the recipients will be Daniel
Lamarre, president and CEO of Cirque du Soleil. Former senator
Michael Meighen will also be honoured at the ceremony at Place
des Arts.
Lamarre is being recognized as one of Canada's most influential
businessmen. He also sits on the Canadian Olympic Foundation
Board of Directors and worked with National Public Relations
from 1984 to 1997.
Before going into communications, he spent 10 years working as a
journalist.
The honorary degrees will be handed out along with degrees for
1,600 graduating students.
{SOURCE: Montreal Gazette | http://goo.gl/0HJD5}
Francois Dupuis, "Big Baby" in Mystere, has Died
{Oct.23.2012}
-------------------------------------------------
Francois Dupuis, a Cirque du Soleil performer who entertained
millions of "Mystere" showgoers as the "big baby" in the diaper
and bonnet has died, the company announced.
Dupuis was an original cast member of "Mystere," which opened in
late 1993 and in March celebrated 18 years and 8,600
performances. He apparently died in his sleep several days ago.
The Canadian was one of the show's most memorable performers,
singling out an audience member at each performance to be his
"mama" and performing a comic routine from a perch high above
the stage.
Daniel Lamarre, Cirque's president and CEO, said Tuesday the
loss of Dupuis was felt throughout the company. "We're such a
family now in Las Vegas," he said. "Everybody knows everybody.
It doesn't matter which show you're on."
Dupuis' daughter is a stage manager for the new Cirque show
"Zarkana" and his son is a stage manager for one of the
company's touring shows.
# # #
We are saddened by this loss. He will forever be one of the
faces of Mystere.
Read the original article here:
< http://goo.gl/6gWB9 >
{SOURCE: Las Vegas Review-Journal}
Guy Laliberté Inducted into the Gaming Hall of Fame
{Oct.25.2012}
----------------------------------------------------
Norm Clarke for the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that Guy
Laliberté has been inducted into the Gaming Hall of Fame on
Tuesday. The Gaming Hall of Fame was established in 1989 to
recognize individuals who have played a significant role in the
gaming-entertainment industry. Induction is the highest honor
accorded by the gaming-entertainment industry. Each year,
individuals who have distinguished themselves through
significant contributions to the industry receive this
distinction. More than 70 people have been inducted into the
Gaming Hall of Fame since its inception. Members include Donald
Trump (1995), Frank Sinatra (1997), Wayne Newton (2000) and
Harry Reid (2001). Recent inductees include Steve Wynn (2006),
Don King (2008) and Tim Parrott (2010).
# # #
Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte punctuated his induction
into the Gaming Hall of Fame by thanking his team for helping
"grow this flower in the desert."
In the beginning, though, it looked bleak, he said, when a
"Mystere" aerialist fell on top of a patron. Nineteen years
after that mishap at "Mystere" (Treasure Island), Cirque shows
continue to bloom, accounting for an average of 9,000 tickets a
night in Las Vegas.
Laliberte was among four inductees in the American Gaming
Association's class of 2012 at Bellagio on Tuesday, a night that
included an abbreviated "O" performance.
Also inducted, posthumously, were Nevada political icon Bill
Raggio and gaming giant Dennis Gomes. Completing the quartet:
star chef Julian Serrano, who was joined by his daughter,
Estefania, and restaurant staff members.
# # #
Read the original article here:
< http://goo.gl/7Fpa1 >
{SOURCE: Las Vegas Review-Journal}
The Cirque: An American Odyssey (Video)
{Oct.25.2012}
--------------------------------------------------
Check this out!
This short documentary chronicles the Cirque du Soleil's 1988
United States tour. As the fledgling Quebec circus sets up its
big top in New York City, where it garners rave reviews, circus
artists discuss what it means to be a part of this success and
the price they pay for taking part in the American Dream. It is
a fascinating peek into the world of Le Cirque Reinvente!
The Cirque: An American Odyssey by Nathalie Petrowski
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/OFYka >
{SOURCE: National Film Board of Canada}
Zarkana isn't your father's Cirque? [EXPANDED]
{Oct.30.2012}
--------------------------------------------------
Talk about getting it from all sides.
"Viva Elvis" will go down in history as the first certified
failure, the undisputable blemish on the amazing success story
of Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas. But the president of the
company caught hell from his own father for closing it.
"My dad was shouting at me. ... He didn't get it. 'What are you
doing Daniel? That was my favorite show. I loved it,'?" recalls
Daniel Lamarre, the Montreal-based company's CEO.
For the baby boomers who built Cirque from Canadian street
theater to 5,000 employees, the Beatles' music driving "Love" is
their emotional touchstone. So Lamarre was proud to see "Elvis"
at Aria provoke the same misty-eyed response from his parents.
"And then it clicked in my mind. My God, maybe that's the
problem," he says. "I think it was a great show, and that's the
sad part. I don't think the problem was the show, I think it was
the demographic of people coming to see the show. The people
coming to see 'Elvis' were 70 and more."
Critics and many showgoers may take issue with the "great show"
part. But attendance counts and demographics both tested the
patience of MGM Resorts International, Cirque's long-faithful
corporate partner. Aria hosts the only theater in all of
CityCenter, which MGM works to position as a hip urban oasis.
SUCCESSFUL IN NEW YORK
When a clear alternative presented itself, "Elvis" became the
first of seven Cirque productions on the Strip to have the plug
pulled. But the count held at six shows for less than three
months. "Zarkana," opens its doors Thursday, with a "soft
opening" leading up to a Nov. 9 party-night premiere.
On a practical level, "Zarkana" is a marriage of convenience.
Lamarre says the fate of "Elvis" was accelerated - shelving
plans to make the show more acrobatic and less biographical -
the day Cirque's founder, Guy Laliberte, turned to him during a
performance of "Zarkana" in New York and said, "This would work
in that (Aria) theater."
"We looked at each other and burst out laughing, and the rest is
history." They invited CityCenter president Bobby Baldwin, who
concurred. "It was so, so clear that the show would fit here."
Las Vegas also answers the question of where to go next for a
successful title that spent two New York summers at Radio City
Music Hall, selling about 550,000 tickets last summer and
450,000 this year, with comparable numbers for limited runs in
Moscow and Madrid in between.
"It's a luxury we never had in Las Vegas before, to come with a
show that we know is working," Lamarre says.
On the other hand, "Zarkana" will have to turn the tide of
chatter about whether Cirque has lost its creative mojo after
"Elvis" and a drastic revamping of "Criss Angel: Believe," which
opened about a year earlier.
"Zarkana" is a back-to-basics acrobatics showcase that detours
from Cirque's branded partnerships using the music and images of
the Beatles, Elvis Presley and - coming next year to Mandalay
Bay - Michael Jackson.
The touring version of the Jackson tribute "The Immortal"
grossed $78.5 million in sports arenas the first half of this
year, so it seems a sure thing despite its mixed reviews.
It's the non-themed "Zarkana" that will have to answer the
question that's now a ritual for the company: How many Cirques
are too many for Las Vegas?
In the big picture, Cirque du Soleil still belongs far down on
the list of things you have to worry about concerning the
economic health of Las Vegas. The Montreal-based company is the
runaway dominant player for ticketed entertainment, with nearly
120,000 tickets up for sale each week on the Strip.
SHOWCASE FOR CIRQUE TITLES IN LAS VEGAS
A James Cameron-produced 3-D movie, "Worlds Away," is set for
wide release on Dec. 21, showcasing most of the resident Las
Vegas titles within a connecting story.
Lamarre thinks the movie will reinforce what most locals already
understand: That seven titles on the Strip offer something for
everybody, from the family appeal of "Mystere" to the naughty
humor of "Zumanity."
"When you see the images from one show to the next you realize
how distinctive each show is," Lamarre says. Beyond that, he
promises a Christmas present to the city that's come to see
Cirque as the benevolent landlord of a company town: "I knew it
(already), but it was kind of in my face on how much this is an
amazing commercial for Las Vegas."
Still, the magic of the slam-dunk hits "O" and "Love" seemed to
disappear when "Believe" opened to jeers from critics and
audiences alike on Halloween of 2008.
"Zumanity" and "Ka" also stumbled out of the gate, but in both
cases Cirque lived up to its promise of "Give us time, we'll fix
it."
This time, the surgery was more drastic. Cirque turned creative
control of "Believe" over to Angel, who gradually stripped it of
acrobatics and dancing - nearly all of the Cirque content - to
make it a more streamlined illusions show.
"I think what we did was a smart decision. Not an easy decision,
but a smart decision," Lamarre says, "to understand that the two
brands were conflicting. And when you understand that, then you
have to act."
One brand had to become more dominant, he says. "Since we have
so many shows in the city," Cirque let Angel take the spotlight
from the acrobatics.
'BIZARRE' MEETS 'ARCANE'
Acrobatics are back in full focus now.
"I think 'Zarkana' is tapping into the core of what Cirque du
Soleil is about," says Francois Girard, the show's writer and
director. "I think the delivery of the acrobatics is right up
there."
Girard first made a splash with the arty 1993 movie "Thirty-two
Short Films about Glenn Gould," launching a diverse career that
includes the Metropolitan Opera's upcoming "Parsifal."
But with "Zarkana" - which draws its title from the words
"bizarre" and "arcane" - Girard says he looked backward to look
forward. "I'm a firm believer in the roots of Franco Dragone.
I'm a big admirer of Franco and you learn from his shows,"
Girard says of the "Mystere" and "O" director who struck out on
his own to stage "Le Reve" at Wynn Las Vegas.
"I might have brought my thing, but I think I'm also very close
to the acrobatic roots and serving the acrobats," Girard says.
Cirque also sought a harder edge in the music by Nick
Littlemore, referred to the company by Elton John. Littlemore's
credits include the Australian pop-rock band Empire of the Sun
and the electronica duo Pnau, which remixed John songs for the
album "Good Morning to the Night," with big-selling results
overseas.
"It's a different sound, you haven't heard that music from
Cirque du Soleil," Girard says of a soundtrack he calls "more of
a rock exploration."
"People like to say, and I agree, that Guy Laliberte has
reinvented circus art," says Lamarre, who joined Cirque in 2001
and now shoulders most of the day-to-day decisions for the
founder.
"I think our challenge today is to reinvent Cirque du Soleil,"
he says. "If we want to be able to remain cutting edge, we have
to reinvent ourself all the time."
Still, the family-friendly "Zarkana" makes it seem like close
competition for Cirque's first permanent Las Vegas production,
"Mystere," more than any of the titles that followed.
That could be more of a problem for Cirque than for MGM Resorts,
which no longer owns Treasure Island and would understandably be
happy to have a "Mystere"-like title back in its fold.
"MGM is a fair negotiator enough to allow 'Mystere' to continue
to be promoted with all our portfolio shows," Lamarre says.
Besides, he adds with a smile, "I would not advise anybody in
this city to talk against 'Mystere.' It's amazing how much of a
relationship there is with that show and the Vegas people.
Because for them that was a breakthrough."
"If we want to do the analogy between the two shows," he adds,
"I would say 'Mystere' was obviously the first breakthrough of
Cirque in Vegas, and 'Zarkana' is probably a new breakthrough of
Cirque in the new Vegas.
"Because Vegas has changed a lot in the last few years, and I
think Zarkana is a way for us to go in that new Las Vegas
direction, which is much more modern, much younger."
He only hopes his father would agree.
{SOURCE: Las Vegas Review-Journal}
=======================================================================
ITINÉRAIRE -- TOUR/SHOW INFORMATION
=======================================================================
o) BIGTOP - Under the Grand Chapiteau
{Amaluna, Corteo, Koozå, OVO, Totem, & Varekai}
o) ARENA - In Stadium-like venues
{Saltimbanco, Alegría, Quidam, Dralion
& Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour}
o) RESIDENT - Performed en Le Théâtre
{Mystère, "O", La Nouba, Zumanity, KÀ, LOVE,
Believe, Zarkana & Iris}
NOTE:
.) While we make every effort to provide complete and accurate
touring dates and locations available, the information in
this section is subject to change without notice. As such,
the Fascination! Newsletter does not accept responsibility
for the accuracy of these listings.
For current, up-to-the-moment information on Cirque's whereabouts,
please visit Cirque's website: < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/ >.
------------------------------------
BIGTOP - Under the Grand Chapiteau
------------------------------------
Amaluna:
Toronto, ON -- Sep 6, 2012 to Nov 4, 2012
Vancouver, BC -- Nov 23, 2012 to Dec 30, 2012
Seattle, WA -- Jan 31, 2013 to Mar 24, 2013
Edmonton, AB -- April 5, 2013 to May 12, 2013
Calgary, AB -- TBA
Corteo:
Dusseldorf, DE -- Oct 18, 2012 to Nov 18, 2012
Berlin, DE -- Nov 29, 2012 to Dec 23, 2012
Hamburg, DE -- Jan 9, 2013 to Jan 27, 2013
Koozå:
Tampa, FL -- Nov 8, 2012 to Dec 16, 2012
London, UK -- Jan 5, 2013 to Feb 3, 2013
Madrid, ES -- Mar 1, 2013 to Mar 31, 2013
Bilbao, ES -- May 16, 2013 to Jun 2, 2013
Knokke, BE -- Jul 18, 2013 to Aug 4, 2013
Paris, FR -- Nov 22, 2013 to Feb 2, 2014
Ovo:
Sydney, AU -- Sep 13, 2012 to Nov 25, 2012
Adelaide, AU -- Dec 06, 2012 to Jan 6, 2013
Melbourne, AU -- Jan 17, 2013 to Mar 3, 2013
Perth, AU -- Apr 14, 2012 to May 5, 2013
Totem:
Atlanta, GA -- Oct 26, 2012 to Dec 30, 2012
Miami, FL -- Jan 10, 2013 to Feb 3, 2013
New York, NY -- Mar 13, 2013 to May 12, 2013
Philadelphia, PA -- May 29, 2013 to Jun 30, 2013
Varekai:
Santiago, CL -- Nov 14, 2012 to Dec 2, 2012
Lima, PE -- Jan 17, 2013 to Jan 27, 2013
------------------------------------
ARENA - In Stadium-Like Venues
------------------------------------
Saltimbanco:
Boston, MA -- Oct 31, 2012 to Nov 4, 2012
Pensacola, FL -- Nov 7, 2012 to Nov 8, 2012
San Juan, PR -- Nov 15, 2012 to Nov 18, 2012
Santo Domingo, DO -- Nov 22, 2012 to Nov 25, 2012
Cedar Park, TX -- Dec 12, 2012 to Dec 16, 2012
Montreal, QC -- Dec 19, 2012 to Dec 30, 2012
{Final Curtain Call, December 30, 2012}
Alegría:
Pesaro, IT -- Nov 1, 2012 to Nov 4, 2012
Bologna, IT -- Nov 8, 2012 to Nov 11, 2012
Milan, IT -- Nov 15, 2012 to Nov 18, 2012
Lille, FR -- Nov 21, 2012 to Nov 25, 2012
Paris, FR -- Nov 28, 2012 to Dec 2, 2012
Rotterdam, NL -- Dec 6, 2012 to Dec 9, 2012
Turin, IT -- Dec 13, 2012 to Dec 16, 2012
Geneva, SZ -- Dec 19, 2012 to Dec 23, 2012
Barcelona, ES -- Dec 26, 2012 to Jan 6, 2013
Santa Cruz de Tenerife, ES - Jan 13, 2013 to Jan 20, 2013+
Herning, DK -- Feb 7, 2013 to Feb 10, 2013
Copenhagen, DN -- Feb 13, 2013 to Feb 24, 2013
Oslo, NO -- Feb 28, 2013 to Mar 2, 2013
Stockholm, SE -- Mar 6, 2013 to Mar 10, 2013
Helsinki, FI -- Mar 13, 2013 to Mar 17, 2013
Turku, FI -- Mar 22, 2013 to Mar 24, 2013
Tallinn, EE -- Apr 3, 2013 to Apr 6, 2013
Riga, LV -- Apr 11, 2013 to Apr 13, 2013
Vilnius, LT -- Apr 18, 2013 to Apr 20, 2013
Bratislava, SK -- Sep 11, 2013 to Sep 15, 2013
Quidam:
West Valley City, UT -- Nov 1, 2012 to Nov 4, 2012
Broomfield, CO -- Nov 7, 2012 to Nov 11, 2012
Loveland, CO -- Nov 14, 2012 to Nov 18, 2012
Columbus, OH -- Dec 6, 2012 to Dec 9, 2012
Grand Forks, ND -- Dec 14, 2012 to Dec 16, 2012
Sioux City, IA -- Dec 18, 2012 to Dec 20, 2012
Des Moines, IA -- Dec 22, 2012 to Dec 23, 2012
Kansas City, MO -- Dec 26, 2012 to Dec 30, 2012
Wichita, KS -- Jan 2, 2013 to Jan 6, 2013
Colorado Springs, CO -- Jan 9, 2013 to Jan 13, 2013
Rio Ranco, NM -- Jan 16, 2013 to Jan 20, 2013
El Paso, TX -- Jan 23, 2013 to Jan 27, 2013
Laredo, TX -- Jan 29, 2013 to Jan 31, 2013
Corpus Christi, TX -- Feb 2, 2013 to Feb 3, 2013
Hidalgo, TX -- Feb 6, 2013 to Feb 10, 2013
North Little Rock, AR -- Feb 28, 2013 to Mar 3, 2013
Houston, TX -- Mar 6, 2013 to Mar 10, 2013
New Orleans, LA -- Mar 13, 2013 to Mar 17, 2013
Dralion:
Long Beach, CA -- Nov 1, 2012 to Nov 4, 2012
Fresno, CA -- Nov 7, 2012 to Nov 11, 2012
San Deigo, CA -- Nov 15, 2012 to Nov 18, 2012
Tucson, AZ -- Nov 21, 2012 to Nov 25, 2012
Phoenix, AZ -- Nov 28, 2012 to Dec 2, 2012
Topeka, KS -- Dec 5, 2012 to Dec 9, 2012
Tulsa, OK -- Dec 12, 2012 to Dec 16, 2012
Okalahoma City, OK -- Dec 19, 2012 to Dec 23, 2012
Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour:
Stockholm, SE -- Nov 2 & 3, 2012
Helsinki, FI -- Nov 5 & 6, 2012
St. Petersburg, RU -- Nov 9, 10 & 11, 2012
Frankfurt, DE -- Nov 16 & 17, 2012
Oberhausen, DE -- Nov 20, 2012
Munich, DE -- Nov 24 & 25, 2012
Hannover, DE -- Nov 28, 2012
Vienna, AT -- Dec 1 & 2, 2012
Manheim, DE -- Dec 5, 2012
Leipzig, DE -- Dec 8 & 9, 2012
Hamburg, DE -- Dec 11, 2012
Cologne, DE -- Dec 15 & 16, 2012
Berlin, DE -- Dec 19 & 20, 2012
Madrid, ES -- Dec 26 to Dec 29, 2012
Kazan, RU -- Jan 17, 18 & 19, 2013
Moscow, RU -- Jan 22 to 27, 2013
Budapest, HU -- Feb 5 & Feb 6, 2013
Prague, CZ -- Feb 8 & 9, 2013
Zurich, CH -- Feb 13 & 14, 2013
Turin, IT -- Feb 19 & 20, 2013
Milan, IT -- Feb 23 & 24, 2013
Montepellier, FR -- Feb 26 & 27, 2013
Antwerp, BE -- Mar 1, 2013
Birmingham, UK -- Mar 26, 2013
Manchester, UK -- Mar 29, 2013
Paris, FR -- Apr 4 to Apr 7, 2013
Lisbon, PT -- Apr 11 to Apr 14, 2013
Barcelona, ES -- Apr 17 to Apr 20, 2013
---------------------------------
RESIDENT - en Le Théâtre
---------------------------------
Mystère:
Location: Treasure Island, Las Vegas (USA)
Performs: Saturday through Wednesday, Dark: Thursday/Friday
Two shows Nightly - 7:00pm & 9:30pm
2012 Dark Dates:
o November 14
"O":
Location: Bellagio, Las Vegas (USA)
Performs: Wednesday through Sunday, Dark: Monday/Tuesday
Two shows Nightly - 7:30pm and 10:00pm
2012 Dark Dates:
o December 3 - 18
La Nouba:
Location: Walt Disney World, Orlando (USA)
Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark: Sunday/Monday
Two shows Nightly - 6:00pm and 9:00pm
2012 Dark Dates:
o November 27
Zumanity:
Location: New York-New York, Las Vegas (USA)
Performs: Friday through Tuesday, Dark Wednesday/Thursday
Two Shows Nightly - 7:30pm and 10:00pm
2012 Dark Dates:
o December 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18
KÀ:
Location: MGM Grand, Las Vegas (USA)
Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark Sunday/Monday
Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm
2012 Dark Dates:
o November 20
LOVE:
Location: Mirage, Las Vegas (USA)
Performs: Thursday through Monday, Dark: Tuesday/Wednesday
Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm
2012 Dark Dates:
o December 6 - 19
BELIEVE:
Location: Luxor, Las Vegas (USA)
Performs: Friday through Tuesday, Dark: Wednesday/Thursday
Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 10:00pm
NOTE: Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by
an adult. Children under the age of five are not permitted
into the theater.
2012 Dark Dates:
o December 18-25
ZARKANA:
Location: Aria, Las Vegas (USA)
Performs: Friday through Tuesday, Dark: Wednesday/Thursday
Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm
Previews begin in Las Vegas November 1, 2012
Regular performance begin November 11, 2012
2012 Dark Dates:
o None
IRIS:
Location: Kodak Theatre, Hollywood, CA (USA)
Performs: Tuesday through Friday @ 8:00pm
Saturday @ 3:00pm and 8:00pm
Sunday @ 2:00pm and 7:00pm
DARK: Monday
Select Weekday Matinee Performances
Wednesday and Friday at 3:00pm
2012 Dark Dates:
o November 22
o December 4 and 25
=======================================================================
OUTREACH - UPDATES FROM CIRQUE's SOCIAL WIDGETS
=======================================================================
o) Club Cirque -- This Month at CirqueClub
o) Networking -- Posts on Facebook, G+, & YouTube
---------------------------------------
CLUB CIRQUE: This Month at CirqueClub
---------------------------------------
OVO Performed at the Helpmann Awards
{Oct.01.2012}
----------------------------------------------
Less than two weeks after the Premiere in Sydney, the OVO cast
performed a stunning performance at the prestigious Helpmann
Awards on September 24, 2012. It was the first act of Cirque du
Soleil ever presented at the famous Sydney Opera House.
Check out some pictures of the performance at the 12th annual
Helpmann Awards at CirqueClub's website:
< http://goo.gl/qousH >
Entertainment Tonight Visits Cirque's HQ
{Oct.03.2012}
----------------------------------------------
The lovely Nancy O'Dell from Entertainment Tonight paid us a
visit to talk about our upcoming 3D film, Cirque du Soleil:
Worlds Away' - see her transform into a Mystère by Cirque du
Soleil character and hear also from Executive Producer James
Cameron!
Not only did Nancy have the chance to tour Cirque du Soleil's
hallowed training grounds and chat with costumes and creative
spaces vice president Benoit Mathieu and casting talent scout
Pavel Kotov, but she also had the unique opportunity to dress
up and try a few of the Soleil stunts.
Watch at CirqueClub:
< http://goo.gl/RecNN >
Costumes and Make-up Videos
Just in Time for Halloween
{Oct.17.2012}
----------------------------------------------
Right on time for Halloween! Have a look at our video library
dedicated entirely to make-up, masks and costumes.
You might get inspired to give your Halloween costumes a touch
of circus style!
1. Amaluna Costume
Amaluna costume designer Mérédith Caron has created complex
Multi-dimensional costumes evoking a world of day and night.
2. TOTEM Costumes
Kym Barrett, Costume designer for TOTEM, talks about her
work.
3. Inside Alegría Make-up
Meet Natalie Gagné, Make-up Designer, and Elodie Dufau, Power
Track Character. Hear them describe the make-up process
artists go through for every show.
4. Head of wardrobe for KOOZA
Meredith Tomkovitch, Head of wardrobe for KOOZA, talks about
the art of mask-making.
5. Head of wardrobe for Corteo
Julie de Carufel, Head of wardrobe for Corteo, talks about
the role of the wardrobe team on tour.
Check out these videos and more at CirqueClub!
< http://goo.gl/4oYYg >
Kooza Costume Sketches
{Oct.26.2012}
----------------------------------------------
KOOZA is already 5 years old! This colorful production, inspired
by everything from the painter Klimt to children's book
illustrations and graphic novels, reunites two circus
traditions: acrobatic performance and the art of clowning. To
pay tribute to the exotic and vibrant costumes created by Marie-
Chantale Vaillancourt, we're opening the archive coffers and
offer a look on the original costume drawings and the costumes
that still perform today.
Fun KOOZA Facts:
o) There are more than 175 costumes and 160 hats in KOOZA -
1,080 items in all, including all the shoes, props, wigs and
so on.
o) The Skeleton costumes were also designed to be used as
percussion instruments in the show. Made out of molded
carbon, they look and sound like bones when the performers
hit them against each other to create a musical rhythm.
o) The "Rat Cape" is a costume that creates the illusion that
rats are running down a performer's body before disappearing
into a trap. It is made up of 150 fake-fur rats with crystal
eyes to catch the light.
o) The cast and crew of KOOZA is an international one,
representing 22 nationalities: Argentina, Australia, Belarus,
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Ecuador,
France, Hungary, India, Japan, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Mongolia,
Rumania, Russia, Spain, Ukraine, United States and United
Kingdom.
Check out the original costume sketches at CirqueClub:
< http://goo.gl/G8cML >
The Saltimbanco Journey - Part 1
{Oct.31.2012}
----------------------------------------------
The travelling performers' story
Charged with highly contagious energy, Saltimbanco was a
pioneering production and has served as a true ambassador
for Cirque du Soleil.
Since 1992, Saltimbanco has visited 205 cities across 41
countries. The only show to have spanned five continents, it was
performed in more than 150 cities that hadn't previously played
host to a Cirque du Soleil show. Having now toured for 20 years,
Saltimbanco has been seen by 14 million spectators.
An imaginary city where diversity is combined with hope
Saltimbanco is an emblematic Cirque du Soleil production
inspired by urban life and the diversity found in big cities.
Cities are not only a network of relationships, but also a
network of paradoxes. The production portrays these various
paradoxes through its characters, acts and costumes.
By adopting a much more optimistic vision than the one seen at
the time of its creation, Saltimbanco aims to steer away from
sombreness and disenchantment and focus on light and hope.
« Saltimbanco is a colourful celebration in which we can break
the rules, stick our tongue out at someone or blow a kiss to a
stranger. » - Carolyne Vita, Artist
Read more - including images of Saltimbanco headlines around the
world - at CirqueClub: < http://goo.gl/afSzP >
Signup today, it's free!
---------------------------------------------------
NETWORKING: Cirque on Facebook, YouTube & Twitter
---------------------------------------------------
{Compiled by Keith Johnson}
---[ ALEGRIA ]---
{Oct.02}
Parade in Istanbul... (3 photos) Artists and musicians in
Sultanahmet - Old City - in Istanbul, Turkey.
LINK ///< http://goo.gl/5gwtC >
{Oct.03}
Back on Show TV for the live recording of SABA TUMER' LE BUGUN.
LINK ///< http://goo.gl/rEJ0R >
{Oct.09}
Great article about Micah Naruo, Fire-Knife Dancer. ... talking
about his love to perform on stage, being part of Alegria.
LINK ///< http://goo.gl/enfq3 >
LINK ///< http://goo.gl/7W5yR >
{Oct.12}
Special Photo Shoot - 46 Mag (Istanbul) (4 photos) Don't miss
this Special "Cirque" Edition with Alegria and Can Bonomo - at
Istanbul.
LINK ///< http://goo.gl/0gVXE >
{Oct.18}
Did you know there are 100,000 snowflakes in every single
Alegria by Cirque du Soleil storm?
LINK ///< http://goo.gl/7lCNE >
{Oct.19}
We offer different kinds of workshop to the artists so they can
explore new forms of art. This week, it was Jorge Laico who
introduced the group to the techniques of the classic ballet
dance.
LINK ///< http://goo.gl/tXylW >
{Oct.20}
Curious to know more about how we move, travel and prepare for
the show every week? Watch this short video exploring our
technical challenges.
LINK ///< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-Km-JqNLfg >
{Oct.29}
Pesaro, Italy (4 photos)
LINK ///< http://goo.gl/1O24I >
---[ AMALUNA ]---
{Oct.04}
How do you think you would do trying some of the acts in
Amaluna? Yesterday we had Global News Reporter Rob Leth visit us
at the Big Top, he found out very quickly that it is much harder
than it looks! Here are a few of his "bloopers"
LINK /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zzynK0e5Eo
{Oct.12}
Did you know that the flags flying outside the Big Top represent
the countries of the artists on tour? For Amaluna, we have 52
performers from 16 different countries: Australia, Spain, Greece
and Mongolia - just to name a few!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/VZrZF >
{Oct.16}
The Balance Goddess' manipulation act is one of the most unique
acts in Amaluna - in an ode to balance, this meditative act
represents a world in equilibrium. How many palm leaf ribs do
you think are used to construct this breathtaking structure?
LINK /// <http://goo.gl/z7Sxz >
{Oct.18}
The Amaluna kitchen staff is amazing and always working hard. On
a two show day like today, they will serve over 300 meals to the
120 cast & crew on tour. Bon appétit!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/dK0U6 >
{Oct.26}
Watch our latest video to find out just how much fun a show can
be for a VIP Rouge winner!
LINK /// < http://cirk.me/R71Tnz >
{Oct.28}
From all of us here at Amaluna - Happy Halloween!! We hope to
see a few Cirque du Soleil inspired costumes - maybe a 1,000
Arms?
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/5diWD >
---[ CIRQUE DU SOLEIL ]---
{Oct.02}
Happy one-year anniversary to the Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL
World Tour by Cirque du Soleil cast and crew! The show premiered
in Montreal on Oct. 2/11. Congrats on an amazing year! Have you
seen the show yet?
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/vfY8b >
{Oct.03}
It's here! Discover the latest Desigual Inspired by Cirque du
Soleil collection and enter to win a new Desigual wardrobe and a
trip for 2 to see a Cirque du Soleil show in Las Vegas! Details:
LINK /// < http://cirk.me/SEZq42 >
{Oct.03}
The lovely Nancy O'Dell paid us a visit to talk about our
upcoming 3D film, 'Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away' - see her
transform into a Mystère by Cirque du Soleil character and hear
also from Executive Producer James Cameron! Watch here now:
http://cirk.me/EToDell Are you excited to see the movie? - at
Cirque du Soleil IHQ.
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/1tCKQ >
{Oct.05}
Just a few weeks until Zarkana opens in Las Vegas
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/TIV0i >
{Oct.06}
Did you know tonight is the 200th Amaluna - Cirque du Soleil
performance? Congrats to the cast and crew on a job well done!
{Oct.09}
At Cirque du Soleil we encourage everyone to express their
creativity! Every year we exhibit works of art created by
employees at our International Headquarters. See the complete
exhibition here:
LINK /// < http://cirk.me/Qz9RX0 >
{Oct.19}
Corteo by Cirque du Soleil is now performing in Düsseldorf,
Germany. Where in the world did you first see the show?
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/Qrrkc >
{Oct.20}
Earlier this week, our teams in Montreal and in Vegas were able
to see a sneak preview of Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/Rr2yV >
{Oct.22}
Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away @ Toyko International Film
Festival (6 photos)
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/cY79V >
{Oct.24}
Check out our new Pages app for more information on all of the
Cirque du Soleil shows playing throughout the world. Or you can
just like your favorite show for more information.
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/NgAJx >
{Oct.31}
Zombies have invaded Cirque du Soleil's International
Headquarters! Some lucky employees were "zombified" by our team
of experienced make-up artists for Halloween.
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/gdfwn >
---[ CORTEO ]---
{Oct.10}
Getting ready in Dusseldorf...we're setting up Corteo's site.
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/WwrzD >
{Oct.12}
4 Corteo costumes are exposed in the Schadow Arkaden in
Dusseldorf...a sneak preview of Corteo opening in this city next
week!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/zJsLq >
{Oct.13}
Meet Corteo's White Clown!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/CPclj >
{Oct.15}
Corteo's artists started today their rehearsals in Dusseldorf,
Germany!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/o0Tgl >
{Oct.17}
Corteo costumes are now ready for tonight's Dress Rehearsal in
Dusseldorf...did you know there're over 260 costumes used for
the show?
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/HwJjX >
{Oct.25}
Did you know that in the center of Corteo's circular stage
there's a labyrinth which precisely reproduces the proportions
and size of the classic design on the aisle floor in Chartres
Cathedral?
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/eSRG2 >
{Oct.28}
Dusseldorf audience is going crazy about the chandeliers
act...you?
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/X7dh5 >
{Oct.31}
Happy Halloween! Have fun tonight.
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/E0y2x >
---[ CRISS ANGEL BELIEVE]---
{Oct.12}
Cirque du Soleil has partnered with Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas
Marathon & 1/2 Marathon! Enter the Non-Stop Vegas giveaway
weekly between now and race day for a chance to win great
prizes. Enter here:
LINK /// < http://cirk.me/X20V0s >
{Oct.27}
Criss gave FOX5 Local. Las Vegas a behind scenes tour of CRISS
ANGEL Believe this past week.
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/9O1gX >
{Oct.31}
Happy Halloween and happy four year anniversary to the cast and
crew here at CRISS ANGEL Believe!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/u64Lo >
---[ DRALION ]---
{Oct.02}
Did you know the costume in the Dralion act are worn by two
performers, weighs approximately 40 pounds and are compose of 6
different pieces.
{Oct.03}
It takes approximately one hour for our Diabolo artist to apply
her make-up! To get ready she will complete 23 steps, use 18
different brushes and 26 different products including mascara,
lipstick, blush, foundation and eye shadow.
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/msU40 >
{Oct.11}
Here is a nice preview article on Dralion opening tonight at the
Taco Bell Arena! Get your tickets soon!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/CJnu4 >
Must see photo capture by the Statesman last night!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/DsMi2 >
{Oct.14}
Opening at the Stockton Arena on Oct. 17 for 7 shows only! Read
on how trampo-wall artist started with Dralion!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/ZFcPu >
{Oct.16}
Good Morning San Diego! Visiting lots of TV stations today!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/9uge5 >
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/wDvM4 >
{Oct.23}
Good morning Phoenix!!!! Tune in Channel 12 (NBC), AZ-TV, FOX
this morning for a sneak peak of Dralion coming in town as of
Nov. 28!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/5mDTU >
---[ IRIS ]---
{Oct.09}
IRIS Street Team at Disneyland Gay Days (13 photos)
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/ZCMq5 >
{Oct.16}
Congratulations to two of our amazing IRIS by Cirque du Soleil
artists who got married September 24th, 2012! Our famous "stand
on head" couple from last years' Academy Awards performance tied
the knot in Temecula, CA on their 10 year anniversary. They met
here in Los Angeles in 2002 on a dance contract, and quickly
fell in love! They then attended L'Ecole Nationale de Cirque
(National Circus School in Montreal) and graduated in the
discipline of Hand to Hand, which they have performed for Cirque
du Soleil in Banana Shpeel and now IRIS. We wish them love,
health and happiness with their marriage.
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/1H0Qv >
{Oct.22}
Happy Monday! On this day in 1879, inventor Thomas Edison
changed the world and created the first electric light bulb. We
may take it for granted, but our crew at IRIS by Cirque du
Soleil is thankful for this genius invention! IRIS uses over
40,000 watts of light, 4,000 LED fixtures and enough colored gel
to stretch from the Dolby Theatre to the Hollywood sign and back
again. But without its crew of eleven lighting technicians, "The
world of shadow and lights" would never be possible. A big
thanks! (Pictured below)
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/HvRlz >
{Oct.25}
Are you planning to dress up this year for Halloween? One of the
spookiest characters in IRIS by Cirque du Soleil is our shadow
tamer, who corrals the wild shadows that run loose throughout
the show. Fun fact: the head piece for the shadow tamer is 2 lbs
and the whip tail measures 113 inches long. The whip is made out
of 250 strands of wraphia ribbon, which is then hand-braided and
covered in netting!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/P1mWX >
{Oct.26}
Start your trick or treating early! Come visit the IRIS by
Cirque du Soleil street team at Hollywood & Highland to pick up
some candy along with great ticket deals to same-day shows.
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/5CREQ >
{Oct.31}
Happy Halloween! Our artists at IRIS by Cirque du Soleil get to
play dress-up every day with costumes such as: Buster Keaton,
tribal characters, human-machine hybrids, shadow tamer, aliens,
Snow White, Tarzan, gangsters, policemen.. and much more! What
will you go as this year?
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/3kZzp >
---[ KÀ ]---
{Oct.25}
We're getting ready for our special performance in the MGM Grand
lobby at 5 p.m.! Stop by and watch if you're in town! We had a
great crowd for our special performance in the MGM Grand lobby!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/GWM0B >
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/2R40t >
---[ KOOZA ]---
{Oct.02}
Artistic Director Michael G Smith, The Trickster and The
Innocent interviewed by The Blue Star Network/CBS 11 - at Cowboy
Stadium.
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/hAf57 >
{Oct.05}
Cowboy Game: Oct.1, 2012 (8 photos) Cowboys Game: Monday
October 1st 2012 marked an unparalleled event where Kooza
collaborated with the Dallas Cowboys for Monday Night Football
in the Historic Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington TX!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/mfQRH >
{Oct.18}
Have you ever seen someone jump over someone else from 25 feet
in the air?
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/0UtOV >
{Oct.24}
KOOZA celebrates its 2,000th show on October 28, 2012! KOOZA
has visited 30 cities and traveled 31,400 miles since its
creation in 2007!
{Oct.26}
Close to two miles of gold foil has been used by KOOZA artists
since its premier in 2007!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/IVws0 >
{Oct.27}
Over 10,000 suitcases and 1,000 bicycles have been transported
since KOOZAs premiere in 2007!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/ArZ11 >
{Oct.28}
Today is KOOZA's 2,000th show at 1pm. Mini-cupcakes will be
served at intermission! Its time for sweets and celebration!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/k73Zs >
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/e1Eh7 >
{Oct.28}
Taking photo of cast and crew that have been with KOOZA since
its creation in 2007!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/J2NHq >
{Oct.28}
Ganjuur Boldbaatar (Charivari, Teeterboard) has never missed a
show!!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/hRKrL >
---[ LA NOUBA ]---
{Oct.26}
Check out our performance today at Orlando City Hall! We teamed
up with Creative City Project to celebrate arts and humanities
month. - at Orlando City Hall.
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/b448b >
---[ MJ IMMORTAL ]---
{Oct.02}
One year ago today, Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour
premiered in Montreal and since then has performed 190 shows in
67 different cities across North America! THANK YOU to all the
fans for your support and love!
{Oct.04}
Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour by Cirque du Soleil
added 15 photos to the album Michael Jackson The IMMORTAL World
Tour Contest Winners.
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/ODSVt >
{Oct.08}
Meet the characters of IMMORTAL... Glittering in Swarovski
crystals and inhabited by Michael Jackson's spirit, the MIME
becomes completely transformed and infused with Michael's
talents as he shares his journey with the audience.
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/QwkRI >
{Oct.10}
We've arrived in London! Load-in is under way at the O2 Arena as
we count down to the European Premiere in TWO DAYS!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/FVvUv >
{Oct.17}
Check out Choreographer Travis Payne talking about IMMORTAL and
the significance of performing at the O2 Arena!
LINK /// < http://vimeo.com/51229693 >
{Oct.25}
Congratulations to the cast and crew of Michael Jackson THE
IMMORTAL World Tour by Cirque du Soleil who will present their
200th show TONIGHT at Jyske Bank Boxen in Herning, Denmark!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/ilI8p >
{Oct.29}
Thank you Copenhagen for being our largest crowd yet! Michael
Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour by Cirque du Soleil set a record
for all Cirque du Soleil shows with almost 18,000 people in
attendance at Parken on Saturday night!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/8jEgc >
{Oct.31}
Happy Halloween! Do you have your costume yet? How about a mummy
or zombie, inspired by THRILLER!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/rlJws >
---[ MYSTERE ]---
{Oct.03}
Check out Nancy O' Dell transforming into a Mystère performer!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/Spq72 >
{Oct.05}
Fiestas Patrias (8 photos): Do you have big plans for the
weekend? Last month, we spent a Sunday with Mystère characters
at Fiesta Patrias! Take a look at the fun in the photos below!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/0GKqP >
{Oct.19}
If you're in town, be on the lookout for our two new billboards!
Here's a peek at one of them!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/pN6tw >
---[ "O" ]---
{Oct.16}
Tonight we're celebrating our 14th anniversary at Bellagio Las
Vegas!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/qEA4l >
---[ OVO ]---
{Oct.03}
G'Day Australia! Here are some pictures of yesterday's Bug
Dance at the Sydney's Custom House. Over 150 people came to buzz
and dance with the cast of OVO. Stay tuned for other Bug Dances
in the cities OVO will be visiting soon.
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/x9dtQ >
{Oct.15}
G'day Australia! Here's a sneak peak of the costume exhibit at
Level 1 of Chatswood Chase Shopping Centre in Sydney. You have
until November 7 to have a close look at 5 of OVO's most
beautiful costumes. Don't miss your chance!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/mpXJY >
{Oct.16}
G'day Australia. If you haven't bought your tickets for OVO
yet, here's a review that should convince you.
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/PK5eJ >
{Oct.17}
This morning, OVO did a special performance at the 2012
Australian International Motor Show at the Sydney Convention &
Exhibition Centre Darling Harbour to promote the Infiniti cars
in Australia. The brand was officially launched in Australia at
the start of September and this years motor show is the first
opportunity for many Australians to encounter the brands range
of exciting cars. Here's a picture of the event.
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/C4L1w >
{Oct.25}
Another day of interviews for OVO in Sydney.
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/yN5Xp >
---[ QUIDAM ]---
{Oct.04}
"Quidam" got a Hawaiian blessing of the land, the stage, the
show and the cast & crew - opening tonight... Aloha Honolulu!!!
{Oct.11}
Hawaiian blessing of QUIDAM by Kahu Samuel 'Ohukani 'ohi'a Gon
III - how cool is that!?
LINK /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wi4KQqHqvKU >
{Oct.16}
QUIDAM had a beach party to celebrate a big milestone yesterday
_____ shows in Arena. Can you guess how many Arena shows? Clue:
we started touring in arenas in December 2010. (Answer: 500,
Actually QUIDAM as a show performed over 5,500 show but 500 of
them were in the Arenas - long live Quidam!!!)
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/JlF9O >
{Oct.23}
Look at what we found in the attic; original Quidam costume
Sketches... right on time to inspire you for Halloween!
What are you going as this year?
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/wVIuk >
{Oct.25}
On our way to a LIVE morning show FLAT TIRE!!! Quidam solo
skipper pretends to fix it while we're calling for rescue...
will we make it on time? Stay tuned! Thanks for all the
encouragement... We made it! P.S. We did have a spare just not
time to change it
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/8j5Wh >
{Oct.25}
Ever wonder how the Quidam magic can be recreated every week in
sports arena? Check out this cool video of the load In The
Matthew Knight Arena yesterday
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/pWYkv >
{Oct.25}
View from the Administrative office - how can we get any work
done! Amherst, MA - at Mullins Center.
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/F4jku >
{Oct.28}
Sunday morning warm-up. Advisory: do not try this at home -
warm-up routine intended for professionals only!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/KSNNG >
{Oct.31}
Zoe and Target going up 14 stories high for the official pumpkin
drop. Let's hope they are not scared of heights! (Matt Baker
comments: "we never did anything fun like that when I was the
Target!")
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/g0pgn >
---[ SALTIMBANCO ]---
{Oct.04}
Learn a little more about Saltimbanco coming soon to Portland,
ME. You can still get tickets, but hurry up, more than 75% are
already sold!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/eYZQj >
{Oct.14}
Another sold out performance in Portland, ME! It has been a
great week for our first ever visit in Maine! With 26,000
tickets sold, Saltimbanco is now the best selling show in the
Cumberland County Civic Center's 35 year history.
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/a2C0D >
{Oct.25}
And we are live on WFMZ 69 News at Sunrise! Stay tuned Reading
for more info...
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/YlNnm >
{Oct.25}
WFMZ News 69 reporter Melanie Falcon trying the Chinese Poles...
Not as easy as it looks!!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/J8OhH >
{Oct.27}
Come meet our Saltimbanco by Cirque du Soleil promotional team
at Place Rosemère this weekend: Lots to see and tickets to be
won!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/qQbjS >
{Oct.29}
Saltimbanco first visited Boston in...1993! It is back for 7
shows only at the Agganis Arena, October 31 to November 4.
Exclusive interview with Cirque du Soleil cofounder Gilles Ste-
Croix.
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/giy7b >
---[ THE BEATLES LOVE ]---
{Oct.30}
Still looking for inspiration for Halloween? Borrow some
elements from these costumes from our show!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/GRJlz >
---[ TOTEM ]---
{Oct.03}
Voice of America took a look at what goes on behind the scenes
at TOTEM and met a few of our cast members!
LINK /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyNCIavTw0k >
{Oct.07}
It is teardown day at TOTEM in DC with 2 shows to go before we
leave for Atlanta! Go technical team go!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/IO7po >
{Oct.09}
Some of our trucks are already on their way to Atlanta! How many
trucks does it take to move TOTEM around? Photo credit: Matthijs
Van Der Lugt
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/myQLj >
{Oct.12}
Did you know? The inspirations for the TOTEM costumes come from
real animals, plants and birds as well as traditional cultural
and tribal designs. What is your favorite costume in the show?
Costume credit: Kym Barrett
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/Y5hMZ >
{Oct.12}
Artistic Tent is now up at Atlantic Station in Atlanta! Next:
the Big Top!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/KvvJH >
{Oct.13}
Our Big Top is now up in Atlanta! We open on October 26 at
Atlantic Station!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/7Pz9W >
{Oct.15}
Big Top Raising in Atlanta (8 photos) On October 13, 2012, the
blue-and-yellow Big Top was raised at Atlantic Station in
Atlanta! Photo credit: Pouya Dianat 2012 - at Atlantic Station.
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/rfTgY >
{Oct.17}
Congratulations to TOTEM Aerial Ring Artist Alya Titarenko who
just won the Overall World Fitness Champion title at the Arnold
Classic Europe 2012 in Madrid, Spain!!!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/LgbRW >
{Oct.21}
Technicians have been working hard for the past few days to set
up the site and stage/show equipment for our Atlanta Premiere!
TOTEM starts at Atlantic Station on Friday! Photo credit:
Pascal Sioui
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/lDuw6 >
{Oct.24}
Rehearsals are under way under the Big Top at Atlantic Station
in Atlanta! Premiere on Friday!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/p3cNj >
{Oct.26}
Atlanta media are getting excited about TOTEM opening tonight at
Atlantic Station!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/9UQd8 >
{Oct.27}
Atlanta Premiere (17 photos)
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/VsEu2 >
{Oct.31}
Happy Halloween!!! Will TOTEM or Cirque du Soleil inspire your
make-up or outfit tonight?
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/QBDEI >
---[ VAREKAI ]---
{Oct.01}
Did you know that Violainne Corradi is the composer of our show
and her sister Isabel Corradi is the one singing for you every
night?
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/EbQG1 >
{Oct.11}
We love this glowing review our show got in "Pagina 12",
Argentinas local paper!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/OWceT >
{Oct.23}
Did you know that every Cirque show hires an average of 200
local workers to help us out in every set up and tear down we
do?
{Oct.31}
Happy Halloween everyone!!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/iyNUh >
---[ ZARKANA ]---
{Oct.04}
Zarkana & the Spider Lady have arrived at ARIA!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/4alIv >
{Oct.17}
Its almost time for our premiere in Las Vegas at ARIA Resort &
Casino! Take a look at the video below & watch as our Zarkana
ambassadors catch the show in New York in preparation!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/4WWp4 >
{Oct.29}
Our Zarkana street team got all geared up and was spotted at
Town Square in Vegas this weekend! Keep an eye out for them
around town!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/qExE1 >
---[ ZUMANITY ]---
{Oct.18}
We filmed a segment with Adrianna Costa from Extra in Wardrobe
this week! Stay tuned for details on when it will air!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/A6mLk
{Oct.19}
Zumanity artists out to support GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance
Against Defamation) Spirit Day in front of the temporarily
purple Las Vegas sign!
LINK /// < http://instagr.am/p/Q-Sd-SxI_q/ >
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/FBS1Z >
=======================================================================
COMPARTMENTS -- A PEEK BEHIND THE CURTAIN
=======================================================================
o) DIDYAKNOW - Facts at a Glance about Cirque
o) HISTORIA - Cirque Company History
o) ODYSSEA - Cirque Tour History
---------------------------------
DIDYAKNOW? - Facts About Cirque
---------------------------------
Here's a few facts about Mystère, which will celebrate its 9,000th
Performance, November 27th!
SET AND STAGE
o) The set of Mystere "suggests Ulysses, and the mythical obstacles he
had to overcome on his own journey. According to Michel Crête, set
designer, the two towers represent Scylla and Charybdis, two of the
perils Ulysses faced. This is a thematic leftover from the earlier
pitch to Caesars Palace by Cirque du Soleil.
o) The Mystère stage measure is 120 feet wide by 70 feet deep.
o) The stage is hand-painted by one person, and gets fully repainted a
few times per year. Although the stage receives constant touch-ups
each month, during long breaks the Mystère crew re-paints the stage
(and resurfaces it with Coca-Cola to make it sticky).
o) Over 92,000 pounds of equipment "flies" during each performance of
Mystère. More than 7.5 miles of wire rope is used to move all the
equipment and set pieces you see during the show.
o) Treasure Island's rigging use Gala's Vertilift drum system. Each of
the 23 battens is suspended by steel cables directly from a shaft
that both supports the battens and turns the grooved cable drums
that wind the cables. The shaft is supported by rollers that ride
in the same grooves as the cables. As a result, the entire shaft-
all 120' of it--moves laterally as the cable is taken up, ensuring
there is no change in fleet angle.
o) All the images projected onto the sky during performances of
Mystère are pictures taken of the original cast training in
Montreal before coming to Las Vegas.
PROPS
o) The Mystère Props team goes through 5,712 red balloons (or
Fünftausendsiebenhundertzwölf Luftballons for you Nena fans out
there) each year to fly the Baby Girl from the stage to the
ceiling.
o) 22 miles of bungee cord are used in the show.
o) 11,000 gallons of liquid nitrogen, enough to fill a back yard pool,
is stored behind the upstage wall.
o) The glue used on the Chinese Poles to give the artists a better
grip when performing is made from 15 pounds of rosin rock and 8
bottles of castor oil melted together in a large pot. Mystère goes
through 90 pounds of rosin rock and 768 ounces of castor oil per
year.
o) Over 110 bounces on the trampoline and over 65 teeterboard jumps
are executed during a single performance of Mystère.
o) Alice the Snail -- Length from front antennae to tip of tail: 38-
feet, 3-inches (38' 3"). Width from one side of the shell to the
other: 13-feet, 8-inches (13' 8"). Height from bottom of wheels to
top of shell: 25-feet, 7-inches (25' 7"). Height from bottom of
wheels to tip of tail: 14-feet, 4-inches (14' 4"). She weighs over
2,000 pounds, is pushed by four carpenters, and travels 165 feet
per show!
------------------------------------
HISTORIA: Cirque Company History
------------------------------------
* Nov.01.2004 -- "20 Years Under the Sun" Book Published
* Nov.02.2004 -- Region 01 DVD Release: Fire Within and La Nouba
* Nov.03.2010 -- Cirque Announces CIRQUE MJ
* Nov.04.2001 -- Dralion wins 3 Emmys:
Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special
Outstanding Directing for a Variety or Musical
Outstanding Costumes for a Variety or Music Program
* Nov.04.2010 -- Tickets go on sale for Cirque MJ Extravaganza
* Nov.05.2002 -- Varekai CD released in Canada (BMG/CDS Musique)
* Nov.05.2002 -- NBC buys BRAVO, the Official Network of Cirque in US
* Nov.05.2004 -- Dralion celebrated 2000th performance [Madrid, Spain]
* Nov.06.2009 -- Cirque officially announces VIVA ELVIS name
* Nov.07.2002 -- Varekai canceled in San Francisco due to Wind Gusts
* Nov.07.2009 -- Mystère/KÀ performs at Latin Grammy's
* Nov.08.1987 -- Cirque Réinventé (Vol 1) CD Released (Nâga)
* Nov.08.1994 -- Cirque Réinventé CD Released in US (RCA/Victor)
* Nov.08.1994 -- Mystère CD released in US (RCA/Victor)
* Nov.09.1999 -- Dralion CD released in US (RCA/Victor)
* Nov.09.2010 -- VIVA ELVIS CD Released
* Nov.12.1996 -- Mystère Live CD released in US (RCA/Victor)
* Nov.13.2003 -- Cirque presented at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto
to Honor Prime Minister Jean Chrétien
* Nov.14.2009 -- ZAIA celebrated 500th Performance
* Nov.15.1993 -- "Cirque du Soleil" 10th Anniversary Book Published
* Nov.19.1998 -- «O» CD Released in Canada (RCA/Victor)
* Nov.19.2001 -- Region 01 DVD Release: Inside La Nouba
* Nov.19.2002 -- Alegría premiered on Bravo at 8:00pm EST
* Nov.20.2006 -- Diesel Marketing (Cirque Website) becomes Sid Lee
* Nov.21.2006 -- LOVE CD Released in US (Capitol Records)
* Nov.21.2008 -- ZED Celebrated 100th Performance
* Nov.21.2010 -- Curtain falls on Quidam Bigtop Tour (Bogota, Columbia)
* Nov.23.2009 -- Dralion Juggling act on Mexican Awards Show, Los Premios
* Nov.24.1998 -- «O» CD Released in US (RCA/Victor)
* Nov.26.2004 -- KÀ Premiered (Preview Performances Begin)
* Nov.27.2008 -- Asociación de Cronistas del Espectáculo awards Alegría
* Nov.27.2012 -- Mystère celebrated 9,000th Performance (7:00pm)
* Nov.28.2002 -- "Run Before You Fly" documentary premiered on BRAVO
* Nov.30.2002 -- "Fire Within" premiered on ArTV in Canada
* Nov.30.2003 -- "SOLSTROM" premiered on CBC
* Nov.xx.1999 -- Region 01 DVD release: Alegría: Le Film
* Nov.xx.2001 -- Quidam celebrated 2000th performance [Zurich]
------------------------------------
ODYSSEA: Cirque Tour History
------------------------------------
* Nov.01.1996 -- Alegría opened Hong Kong, CN
* Nov.01.2012 -- Alegría Arena opened Pesaro, IT
* Nov.01.2012 -- Quidam Arena opened West Valley City, UT
* Nov.02.1994 -- Saltimbanco opened Montreal, QC
* Nov.02.2010 -- Dralion Arena opened Reading, PA
* Nov.02.2011 -- Alegría Arena opened Frankfurt, DE
* Nov.03.1999 -- Quidam opened Madrid, ES
* Nov.03.2011 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Moscow, RU
* Nov.04.2004 -- Quidam opened Brisbane, Au
* Nov.04.2004 -- Varekai opened Dallas
* Nov.04.2009 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Gothenburg, SE
* Nov.04.2009 -- Corteo opened Tokyo
* Nov.04.2010 -- Alegría Arena opened Boise, ID
* Nov.04.2010 -- Ovo opened Atlanta, GA
* Nov.04.2011 -- Corteo opened Paris, FR
* Nov.05.2010 -- Varekai opened Barcelona, ES
* Nov.06.2003 -- Alegría opened San Francisco
* Nov.06.2012 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Pensacola, FL
* Nov.07.1996 -- Saltimbanco opened Francfort, DE
* Nov.07.2002 -- Varekai opened San Francisco
* Nov.07.2011 -- Varekai opened Rio De Janeiro, BR
* Nov.07.2012 -- Quidam Arena opened Broomfield, CO
* Nov.08.2007 -- Corteo opened Orange County
* Nov.08.2012 -- Alegría Arena opened Bologna, IT
* Nov.08.2012 -- Koozå opened Tampa, FL
* Nov.09.2006 -- Varekai opened Brisbane
* Nov.09.2007 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Champaign, IL
* Nov.09.2011 -- Alegría Arena opened Mannheim, DE
* Nov.10.1992 -- Nouvelle Expérience opened Mirage Resort, Las Vegas
* Nov.10.1995 -- Saltimbanco opened Vienna, AT
* Nov.10.2009 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Mannheim, DE
* Nov.10.2010 -- Alegría Arena opened Stockton, CA
* Nov.10.2010 -- Dralion Arena opened Youngstown, OH
* Nov.10.2011 -- Quidam Arena opened Philadelphia, PA
* Nov.11.2005 -- Corteo opened San Francisco
* Nov.12.1998 -- Alegría opened Frankfurt, DE
* Nov.12.2009 -- Alegría Arena opened London, ON
* Nov.12.2010 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Prague, CZ
* Nov.12.2010 -- Koozå opened Miami, FL
* Nov.13.2002 -- Quidam opened Tampa, FL
* Nov.13.2002 -- Dralion opened Phoenix, AZ
* Nov.13.2007 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Green Bay, WI
* Nov.13.2008 -- Corteo opened Miami
* Nov.13.2011 -- Quidam Arena opened Greenville, SC
* Nov.13.2011 -- Dralion Arena opened Beaumont, TX
* Nov.14.1997 -- Alegría opened Dusseldorf, DE
* Nov.14.2012 -- Quidam Arena opened Loveland, CO
* Nov.14.2012 -- Dralion Arena opened San Diego, CA
* Nov.14.2012 -- Varekai opened Santiago, CL
* Nov.15.2007 -- Quidam opened Mexico City, MX
* Nov.15.2012 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened San Juan, PR
* Nov.15.2012 -- Alegría Arena opened Milan, IT
* Nov.16.2001 -- Dralion opened Dallas, TX
* Nov.16.2007 -- Koozå opened San Francisco
* Nov.16.2011 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened St Petersburg, RU
* Nov.16.2011 -- Quidam Arena opened Washington, DC
* Nov.17.1995 -- Alegría opened Atlanta, GA
* Nov.17.2010 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Zagreb, HR
* Nov.17.2010 -- Alegría Arena opened Phoenix, AZ
* Nov.17.2010 -- Dralion Arena opened Windsow, ON
* Nov.17.2011 -- Dralion Arena opened Cypress, TX
* Nov.18.2005 -- Dralion opened Bilbao
* Nov.18.2009 -- Alegría Arena opened Greenville, SC
* Nov.19.1993 -- Saltimbanco opened Atlanta, GA
* Nov.19.2009 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Nice, FR
* Nov.20.1989 -- Cirque Réinventé opened San Diego, CA
* Nov.20.1997 -- Quidam opened Houston, TX
* Nov.20.2008 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Prescott Vly, AZ
* Nov.20.2008 -- Varekai opened Madrid, ES
* Nov.21.2007 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Dayton, OH
* Nov.21.2012 -- Alegría Arena opened Lille, FR
* Nov.21.2012 -- Dralion Arena opened Phoenix, AZ
* Nov.22.2001 -- Quidam opened London, UK
* Nov.22.2007 -- Alegría opened Belo Horizonte
* Nov.22.2012 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Santo Domingo, Do
* Nov.23.2011 -- Koozå opened Nagoya, JP
* Nov.24.2005 -- Saltimbanco opened Guadalajara, MX
* Nov.24.2010 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Belgrade, SB
* Nov.24.2010 -- Alegría Arena opened Tucson, AZ
* Nov.24.2010 -- Dralion Arena opened Oshawa, ON
* Nov.25.1999 -- Saltimbanco opened Singapore
* Nov.25.2004 -- Saltimbanco opened Lille, FR
* Nov.26.2008 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Tuscon, AZ
* Nov.26.2009 -- Alegría Arena opened Duluth, GA
* Nov.26.2009 -- Dralion opened Mexico City, MX
* Nov.27.2008 -- Dralion opened Brisbane, AU
* Nov.27.2009 -- Ovo opened San Francisco
* Nov.27.2009 -- Ovo opened San Jose, CA
* Nov.27.2011 -- Saltimbanco Arena opened Kiev, UA
* Nov.28.1989 -- Cirque Réinventé opened Phoenix, AZ
* Nov.28.2003 -- Saltimbanco opened Valencia, ES
* Nov.28.2012 -- Alegría Arena opened Paris, FR
* Nov.29.1991 -- Nouvelle Expérience opened Atlanta
* Nov.29.2012 -- Corteo opened Berlin, DE
* Nov.30.2000 -- Dralion opened Atlanta, GA
* Nov.30.2011 -- Quidam Arena opened Fayetteville, NC
* Nov.30.2011 -- Dralion Arena opened Houston, TX
=======================================================================
FASCINATION! FEATURES
=======================================================================
o) "KÀ-MIC KÀ-NVERSATION, Part 2: Keeping the Integrity
An Exclusive chat with Marie-Hélène Gagnon,
Artistic Director of KÀ"
By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA)
o) "Mystère du temps, Part 1:
Celebrating 9,000 Performances"
By: Ricky Russo - Atlanta, Georgia (USA)
o) "Music For Advertising?"
By: Ricky Russo - Atlanta, Georgia (USA)
o) "ZARKANA, Now in Las Vegas!" [EXPANDED]
By: Robin Leach, A Special Reprint
----------------------------------------------------------
"KÀ-MIC KÀ-NVERSATION, Part 2: Keeping the Integrity
An Exclusive chat with Marie-Hélène Gagnon,
Artistic Director of KÀ"
By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA)
----------------------------------------------------------
Last month we featured a chat with Bill Rosemann of Marvel about the
creation of the KÀ by Cirque du Soleil #1 Comic Book. We also reached
out to the staff of KÀ involved in providing Marvel with reference
materials for insight into how the comic was created. In the process
we learned more about the comic, its purpose, and the future of our
heroes left clinging to life on the storm-tossed page.
We were put in touch with Marie-Hélène Gagnon (Mah-RIE - el-ENN gan-
YON) who had previously worked for Cirque du Soleil with Saltimbanco
in 2000 and Quidam in 2002 as Artistic Coordinator, and has been KÀs
Artistic Director for the past six years. In her French-Canadian
accent, this Montréal native explained how she first heard about the
comic book project. "The first I knew about it was because of a joke.
We went to ComicCon (in July of 2011) and did the battlefield [scene]
on the stadium wall (at PETCO Park in San Diego). When we came back I
was talking to the cast [and somebody said], "So, when do we get the
comic book?" (Laughs) And I said well, I dont know, though it would
be great. But the PR person said we were looking into it."
"It was last spring 2012 when we started discussing it and it seemed
that it was going to happen. On Valentines Day the people from
Marvel came to see the show. We had dinner and spoke about the show
and about them. We talked about how many books [we would be
creating], so we could pace it so it remained interesting and you
dont get out of breath before youre done." It was determined the
story could best be told over a total of four comic books. "That was
just the first visit, at that time the deal was not yet made, there
were probably a series of talks before that between [Cirque du Soleil]
Marketing and Marvel that Im not aware of."
But a deal was struck soon afterward. "We started working very
shortly after they came. One of the things we did was give them a DVD
copy of the show they saw (from the static camera that records each
show nightly, not the multi-camera version of the show that appeared
as a special on the German cable network ARTS). [I also] had to send
them close-ups of makeups and costumes when we got closer to doing the
coloring, so that it would be more accurate. [But mostly] what they
had to work with was the DVD."
"We did an [outline] of what would appear in Books One, Two, Three and
Four. Then we [discussed] the details of what would be in Book One.
We got the suggested names of artists [to do the book] before the end
of February. A writer from Marvel then sent us a script [describing]
what would happen on [each page]. In March we started getting
drawings, including the cover which was done by a different artist,
and the inside pages. And from there we discussed some of the
characters [who needed to be] tweaked a bit."
Marie-Helens responsibility was to ensure the comic book properly
represented the show. But it caused her a bit of concern. "This was
the translation of the show into a comic book, and Id never done a
comic book [before]. I like comic books but was just a little worried
about the translation; [going] from taking care of a show to seeing it
on a comic book page and seeing if its accurate, if its
representative, if its still in line with the integrity [of the
show]. I had a little bit of stage fright - how could I support and
help them? Do I have a sharp eye for that? But theyre specialists
and knowledgeable in what they do."
"But you [start the process] and when you get page one, and then page
two, you see the action really does [translate]. And the art we got
from them was really beautiful, theyre intelligent artists. You
dont often have to tell them when something isnt working. I might
say to them that I was a bit surprised at this or that character, and
bang - youd quickly get another suggestion, and then [be able to]
talk about what you meant. Id say it was a really easy partnership
because of their skill and knowledge."
While there could be no changes to the storyline or characters as it
was adapted to the page, so as to keep to the integrity of the show,
they occasionally found a moment that needed enhancement. "At one
point we were discussing how to have a "to be continued" moment in
Book One, so that before we get to the last page we could have a
teaser of whats going to come later. And in the show we have this
nanny [character] reading the twins fans. Shes telling them what she
sees for them saying, "This is your future". And so we did a page
with fragments of the fans and images of upcoming combats or
difficulties or situations, so that readers know after they read Book
One whats upcoming."
Cirque and Marvel have made the comic available online at
www.kacomicbook.com (the site also includes behind-the-scenes
material). But it isnt for sale. "We dont sell it, its a
marketing tool, we just gave it away. It is a diffusion tool. (a
mechanism by which an idea or product can be accepted by the market.)
It was [available] in some select comic book stores for comic book
fans and all that, [but] it was given [away] with a purchase. [And]
the cast got one comic book each as a present."
Now that the first issue has been released, and sales arent a
priority since it was created to be given away for free, are there any
plans for Books Two, Three and Four? "Its a discussion we are
having. Ideally, the goal is to try to get Book Two [out] at ComicCon
2013. Were having fun thinking of ideas, pacing our brains and minds
for [the] structure of four books. The idea would be to have four
books, and then have a book that combines the four. But Ill probably
be 276 years old when it happens!" (Laughs)
Providing input and references for the comic book was in addition to
Marie-Hélènes other duties as KÀ artistic director, which already
make for a busy day. "An average day is from around 2pm to 11:30-ish.
I come to work and check all the emails from Montréal, either for
casting or for changes or for meetings, and respond to those. We have
trainings in the afternoon, and I usually go and watch a part of those
or discuss with the head coach some of the things I would like to see
worked on. Technical setup starts around 4:30, and I see some of the
artistic people who have questions and we talk about the line-up for
that day. In the evening I either watch a show, do some paperwork, or
have one-on-one discussions about things were working on."
Cirque describes the position of Artistic Director in part as being
responsible for nudging the show forward by leveraging the individual
qualities of each artist, a description Marie-Hélène agrees with.
"Theres a responsibility to help the show grow. The job for us is to
keep working on it, as much as we can were there to help it evolve
and change. That being said, the original conceptors remain the ones
who signed the show, and if we make changes theyre told, theyre
shown, and they can always say yes they agree with [a change] or no
they dont."
"The show department I work for is called "Show Quality and
Integrity," which means that I need to not change the show into what
it is not. But its a collective work, and we have leeway. Weve
changed almost all the choreography in the show and put some new
elements in. We do a bunch of stuff but we know that the director
Robert Lepage will always be aware of what were doing. He comes once
every year or year and a half to look at the show and lets us know if
hes pleased, if he likes it or if theres something he doesnt like."
Part of the attempt to help the show grow is in the changes both major
and minor made as the years go by. Change on an individual level
might come when, "You have a new casting and the new persons makeup
[needs to be] adjusted because it doesnt look as good or [the
costume] doesnt fit as well. So we will work on it and make
suggestions - request a costume change, request a makeup change. And
sometimes the creator will say, The next time I come and visit well
look into it. [On another show I worked on] the person I wanted to
take one of the major roles was absolutely not in the profile. And we
had a lot of discussion but finally it was agreed upon, because it was
a good idea for the character."
One "major" change that was announced by Cirque when it was
implemented was changing the choreography of the battle scene. "It
was a big change, yes. Its not a major change - yes it ends up being
that because of the choreography - but its in line with the original
thought. Originally the choreography was very geometric, like
figures. [We wanted] to find a way to put [new choreography] in while
still having a battle. And if you remember from the early days [of
the show] the Firefly character was doing the beginning of the attack.
We wanted to have it be more the fight of the two twins, so we gave
them their partners, twin brother with his jester and twin sister with
the Firefly. But its in line with the idea of the show."
"Is it a major change? Its still KÀ. This is the one thing that is
absolutely necessary. The idea is not necessarily to make it
different. When you have a big deck to put up and the show to create
it takes time to get to the fine tuning. But then later you can
consider - hey, we could do it this way or we could add that
character." But sometimes just making it different makes it better.
"For a team that does so many shows per year, a change that is just a
change can be very good for the atmosphere. Everybody gets excited
because were working on something. But were not going to do
anything thats different from the original creation of the piece."
"The backup act is a very good example of things you can discover.
You have your house troupe working on stuff and you can find a backup
act within your own team that wasnt [originally] in the show, and
then you work on its integration. KÀ doesnt have that because it has
its full story and its acts, and does not have a backup act [as] on
other shows."
Reflecting on the growth of the show, Marie-Hélène commented, "Its
funny because Ive been with KÀ for six years now and I dont see an
act I havent worked on. And I think Ive changed two-thirds of the
cast."
Despite all the challenges, its the variety (like occasionally being
called upon to work on a comic book) that keeps her interested. "[My
day] can go in all directions. The multiple facets of this type of
work are so much fun. I can spend all afternoon in wardrobe [for
example] when were discussing costumes or makeup. Its a little bit
of everything all the time but its great, I love it."
NOTE: As part of CirqueWeek 2012, on December 6, KÀ will be presenting
a discussion and overview of how the KÀ comic book was created and the
thought process behind it, digging a little deeper, offering a closer
look at some of the sketches and more.
My sincere thanks go to: Ms. Gagnon for so graciously talking with us,
Kala Peterson, KÀ Publicist, Chantal Côte, Corporate PR Manager
----------------------------------------------------------
"Mystère du temps, Part 1:
Celebrating 9,000 Performances"
By: Ricky Russo - Atlanta, Georgia (USA)
----------------------------------------------------------
On a relatively cool Las Vegas winters eve in 1993, patrons, fans and
the curious alike assembled on the Las Vegas Strip to take part in
something new and extraordinary: the birth of a new creation from
Cirque du Soleil.
While today an event such as this is considered less than phenomenal
(there are now multiple Cirque du Soleil shows in Las Vegas for
instance), on this cool December evening however, these spectators
were witnessing something untried - the unveiling of a new concept.
Rather than travel and be presented under the Grand Chapiteau (as all
other previous Cirque du Soleil shows had done), this new creation
would instead bow within a specially constructed theater built for its
purpose alone inside one of the newest casino-hotels on the Las Vegas
Strip - Steve Wynns Treasure Island.
It would turn out to be unlike anything that had ever been seen before
from this Montrèal-based circus troupe and it would usher in a brand
new era for Cirque du Soleil, Las Vegas, and production arts as a
whole.
Mystère.
This month Mystère celebrates its 9,000th show. In honor of this
unbelievable milestone, weve decided to take a look back at Mystère -
from its genesis through how the show is presented today in a two-part
exposé. In Part 1 we start with the shows creation, discuss the
trials and tribulations of getting the theater built, and in creating
the shows esoteric narrative. In Part 2 we pick up with an overview
of the uniquely bizarre characters that populate Mystère, before
walking through each of the three iterations of the show: Version 1.0
(1993-1996), Version 2.0 (1997-2011) and Version 3.0 (2012+).
Genesis
-------
"With Mystère, we were out of the big top for the first time, and into
the intimate surroundings of a theatre. We met the challenge by
creating a different style of performance: this time, the show became
a series of large, living frescoes." - Gilles Ste-Croix (Spectaculara)
What brought Cirque du Soleil to this place in time? And what were
they about to give birth to? For Mystère, we look to the history of
Cirque du Soleil to provide those answers, and in doing so revisit the
innovative and imaginative Nouvelle Expérience. "At the end of the
1980s, we were presenting a show called Nouvelle Expérience, and were
approached by Caesars Palace organization to mount a show there, to
be presented in a theater in 1991," said Gilles Ste-Croix in an
interview for the Spectaculara section of Cirque du Soleils website.
"We put together the concept for a show with a mythological theme,
which seemed appropriate," but it didnt go as planned.
According to Theatre Crafts May 1994 issue: In January of 1991,
Cirque founder Guy Laliberté traveled to Vegas with Patrick Berg,
general manager of Sceno Plus Inc., a Montreal-based company
specializing in the design, restoration, and renovation of theatres
which Laliberté had chosen to design the space. In town to pitch their
plans to the Caesar's Palace board of directors for a theatre
(complete with Roman-style columns) that would house the Cirque du
Soleil vision in Vegas, things were not going well. After a lengthy
presentation to these "12 guys in grey suits," as Berge refers to
them, the Cirque contingent was met with a less-than-enthusiastic
response. "No one really wanted to say, 'Oh, its a good concept,' or
'Oh, it's a bad concept," Berg says. Matters were complicated when the
board expressed concern over such matters as show schedules and
costumes. "It came to a point with Caesar's Palace where they were
telling the circus that the girls are going to be dressed like this
and the show had to look like that. So we all got up and walked out
and slammed the door."
Whether or not the meeting ended so abruptly is open to debate, but
after hearing a rumor that Cirque was talking to (and later rebuffed
by) Caesars Palace, then Mirage Resorts (now MGM International)
Chairman Steve Wynn flew to Toronto to catch a performance of Cirques
Nouvelle Experience. According to Berge, "Wynn was so impressed with
what he saw that he approached Laliberté at intermission and said,
Ill give you your building. Wynn saw in Cirque a perfect complement
to Treasure Island, a show that would appeal to its international
guests, but more importantly, one that would appeal to Vegas' newest
target audience: the family."
Therefore, in 1992, following a successful North American tour,
"Nouvelle Expérience" rolled into Las Vegas and set up stakes in a
special white-and-gold striped tent on the grounds of The Mirage. "We
really took a gamble when we tried to play Cirque in Las Vegas," Sally
Dewhurst, publicist for Mystère at the time said in an interview with
Amusement Business (June 5, 1995). "Our situation was that we were
behind the Mirage and people had to go through the casino to the tent,
which wasn't conducive to convenience. Visitors didn't see its
location or know the name, although the locals who did know about it
loved it. One of the incentives to having the show in a tent prior to
Mystère coming was that people became aware of the name Cirque du
Soleil. But Nouvelle Experience didn't have the attendance figures
that we had hoped for."
While the show was less-than-well received - at first ("At that time,
no one in Vegas knew us. We would call suppliers and they would say
Cirque who?", Gilles Ste-Croix remembered) - the yearlong experiment
proved one thing: Las Vegas could handle a sophisticated production
(remember, at the time cabaret-style Showgirl shows and headliners
were the norm). "But the show was a success, and Steve then asked us
to mount a show in a permanent theatre at Treasure Island by 1993,
which was very fast. We ended up building on some of the ideas we
originally presented to Caesar's. That's why there are traces of
mythology in Mystère, like the Odyssey, or Scylla and Charybdis."
Scylla and Charybdis were mythical sea monsters noted by Homer; later
Greek tradition sited them on opposite sides of the Strait of Messina
between Sicily and the Italian mainland. Scylla was rationalized as a
rock shoal (described as a six-headed sea monster) on the Italian side
of the strait and Charybdis was a whirlpool off the coast of Sicily.
They were regarded as a sea hazard located close enough to each other
that they posed an inescapable threat to passing sailors; avoiding
Charybdis meant passing too close to Scylla and vice versa.
"I guess you could say I was the pursuer," Wynn said in an interview
for the shows press-kit. "I tracked them down in Toronto. I told them
I was building a new hotel, Treasure Island, and I said I would build
them the same theater they wanted at Caesars. I asked them to shake
hands on it since I had to catch a plane. I was standing at the bottom
of the ramp. I said, This is how I do business. I wont know you any
better in five years than I do now, so lets make a deal. Guy
Laliberte said, I dont believe this, but he shook hands."
Once the deal was made Laliberté and Berge flew back to Vegas, this
time to meet over the proposal for the performance space. "The first
morning at 9:00," Berge recalled, "we're sitting in the conference
room and Steve Wynn walks in with a plan in his mouth and two others
in his hand and said, 'Okay, guys, you can go back home, I've designed
your whole theatre.' That was the beginning of a three-year
adventure." (Theatre Crafts, May 1994) To say the guys at Cirque du
Soleil were shocked would be an understatement. But eventually Steve
Wynn was convinced of the merits of their plan and offered up a
compromise: the construction project would be managed by Wynns in-
house design firm, Atlandia Design, while the design would be handled
by Scéno Plus.
"Vegas 2 was one step closer to reality; now all Cirque and Sceno Plus
had to do was convince everyone else of the merits of their plan, a
task that would not always be easy." (Theatre Crafts, May 1994)
The Mystère Theater, at Treasure Island
---------------------------------------
Of course, its difficult to fully comprehend the cosmic chorus that
would eventually become Mystère without fully appreciating the space
within which these sprites jump and play.
Researching the creation and implementation of theater and set designs
for Cirque is no easy task, but in doing so one will find two
prevalent names: Michel Crête and Scéno Plus. Michel Crête had been
Cirque du Soleil's scenographer, or the one who "paints the scene"
using the art of perspective representation, for many years up to that
point and was hailed as a talented, one-of-a-kind individual.
Monsignor Crête came to Cirque in 1986, putting his knowledge of
creation and design to use as Costume Designer. In his tenure, he
created the stunning and innovative (not to mention colorful)
costuming for Le Cirque Réinventé (1987-1990) and Nouvelle Expérience
(1990-1993). But "within a few years," says the Cirque du Soleil
website, "he traded fabric for the media of wood, metals and
plastics." The change resulted in many stunning sets for both Cirque's
permanent and traveling shows.
In 1992, Michel Crête left the world of fabric behind and designed the
sets for the mega-production known as Fascination (a combination of Le
Cirque Réinventé and Nouvelle Expérience) that appeared as a special
limited engagement in Japan. He went on to design the sets for
Saltimbanco (1992), Mystère (1993), Alegría (1994), Quidam (1996), "O"
and La Nouba (1998). Through it all, Michel has worked closely with
Scéno Plus.
Scéno Plus is an internationally renowned performing arts and
entertainment design firm providing a complete range of integrated
specialized services. "With an innovative and passionate approach to
each project, we develop unique facilities meeting the highest
expectations from performing artists, facility managers and the
public," states their website. "Passion for theatres and the world of
performing arts, along with a comprehensive understanding of all
issues related to the management of our created spaces, has earned
Scéno Plus numerous international awards and the recognition of the
industry throughout the world." Their vision - TECHNOLOGY ART PASSION
- has led them to create dozens of spaces around the globe. (You can
learn more about Scéno Plus at their website: < http://www.sceno-
plus.com/en/ >)
The first fusion of this partnership between Cirque and Scéno Plus was
the Treasure Island showroom, a beautiful 1541-seat theater within the
430 million expansion of the Mirage Casino-Hotel in Las Vegas. Rumored
to cost approximately $26 million (design and equipment), the theater
comes complete with comfortable seats, a wonderful view for all, and
an interesting story of compromise with its design. You'll find the
74,000 square-foot theater in the back of Treasure Island through a
couple of sets of white and red wooden doors, but you won't mistake
their purpose; for beyond the ornamented doors lays Mystère.
One of the first things people notice upon entering is its openness.
The Treasure Island Theater lacks a divider, or curtain, between stage
and audience that is usually found in most theaters. Thus the 120-foot
by 70-foot stage is completely open to the audience, allowing the
action to be thrust upon them. This was the goal from the initial
meetings between the Mirage staff and Cirque/Scéno. The idea was to
make the environmentfeel as if you were in an intimate setting not a
Big Top. In fact, upon further study you'll find that there's also no
Proscenium Arch, the technical name for that division. The lack of
this arch is what gives Mystère its life, but it was one of the
earliest and first battles the designers had to fight.
The fire marshal took an interest in the fact that the design lacked a
"fire curtain" - a fire-retardant cloth made to help contain smoke,
heat and flame in case of a fire. This absence meant that the theater
would not adhere to the established fire codes, which the fire marshal
could not understand. Patrick Berg, general manager of Scéno Plus
Inc., hauled a model of the theatre to the fire marshals office to
explain it: "Half the show is on top of the audience and you can't
put a fire curtain in the middle of a set," Berge told them and they
acquiesced. The proscenium-less space also met with some resistance
from Wynn and architect Joel Bergman of Atlandia; Bergman pointed out
that if Mystère were to flop in six months, Mirage Resorts would have
to shut the space down and transform it into a "normal theatre". The
solution was to design the theatre and its catwalk system so it could
be easily modified to add a full proscenium arch should the space be
converted.
There were other problems to overcome as well. In the original plans,
series of lifts were envisioned to raise and lower the performers at
will. In order to incorporate the lifts they would have to be buried
in the ground, but Las Vegas sits on a crust of what is called
"caliche," soil particles that have been fused with lime. This fusion
creates a substance that is as hard as (if not harder than) cement,
which makes burrowing into it quite difficult and costly.
Since they couldn't dig down in the bedrock without elevating the
costs of the theater prohibitively, the solution is actually one of
the most ingenious and visible parts of the Mystère experience - the
Deux Machina.
The stage floor sits on specially designed spiral-shaped lifts called
"Spiralifts". The Spiralifts were designed by Gala Systems (a company
that provides theater stage lift systems and over-stage machinery to
theaters, auditoriums, concert halls and venues), a division of
Montreal's Paco Corp. (an equipment and machinery manufacturing
company), and employ a "coiled, flexible, flat steel spring that
expands with the insertion of a thin, vertically-oriented spiral steel
band." This allows for big savings in space while providing a rock-
solid system for lifting and lowering stages. The use of the
Spiralifts (affectionately termed "slinky-lifts") also meant that they
wouldn't have to spend a lot of money digging through the tough, solid
ground, which greatly pleased the Mirage developers. Each of the lifts
can support 300 pounds per square foot and are controlled by a motion
cue system designed by Mirage Resorts Entertainment Technologies
Group. Props, equipment and performers can then elevated to the stage
level from the trap by means of four of these "slinky lifts" located
at the heart of the stage; three are 10-feet by 36-feet, the other, on
the thrust, is 36-feet by 36-feet.
I find once I'm in the theater I can't help but look at the set and
ceiling. A simple thing the ceiling is, but here too Cirque/Scéno
provided something beautiful and interesting. The ceiling is a cloth
mural specially crafted by Sky Art (< http://goo.gl/CN23x >) of
Colorado. The print on the cloth is just as fanciful as the production
below it - a fantasy map of the world with ships at sea! And hidden up
in that sea of ships is the O-Daiko drum, the heartbeat of Mystère!
(The "heartbeat" is 6-feet/1.8 meters in diameter and 15-feet/4.6
meters in length. It weighs half a ton!). The set is also an
interesting piece of mechanics, consisting of a hunk of metal as a
backdrop that can be rotated by a simple flip of a switch. (Youll
notice it more prominently as it moves during the transition from
Korean Plank/FastTrack/Trampoline to Flying Trapeze. At times it is
meant to represent the sky.)
The 10 musicians are housed on either side of the stage, with drums
and percussion on the left and everyone else on the right. A
sophisticated communications computer allows the musical director to
speak with all the musicians and a monotone "click track" keeps
everyone in sync. Underneath the stage is a 28-foot round turntable
that can revolve up to 10 revolutions per minute, and of course those
slinky-lifts.
Many challenges faced the design team for Cirque du Soleil's first
theater, but everyone worked to resolve these issues no matter how
heated the debates became. The addition to The Mirage, Treasure
Island, opened on October 26, 1993. Though the public had to wait
another two months to have a seat in the theater, patrons were lined
up on Christmas Eve to bear witness to a unique event in Cirque du
Soleil's history. In 1994, Scéno Plus was awarded the Las Vegas Best
Theater of the Year award for their ingenuity. Not bad for their first
Cirque outing, wouldn't you say?
An Esoteric Narrative
---------------------
"The Mystère set actually suggests Ulysses, and the mythical obstacles
he had to overcome on his own journey. The two towers represent Scylla
and Charybdis, two of the perils Ulysses faced. The true journey of
life is never easy." - Michel Crete (Spectaculara)
The multi-million dollar production of Mystère tells a story -- An
amazing story of time, beauty and memory; a ballet without gravity and
a theater performance without actors. "Mystère is a voyage to the very
heart of life where past, present and future merge and all our
emotions converge," Franco Dragone says within the pages of the shows
program book. "Mystère is the enigma of time, the bearer of hopes and
dreams, but also of tragedy. It is above all the remembrance of time
past, memories of life unfolding, following its course and ultimately
surviving against all odds."
Mystère is the story of the universe - a rich voyage from the dawn of
time to the end of the millennium. Mystère is also mans journey from
infancy to adulthood - his desire to understand the universe, his
search for answers and his ultimate discovery that life itself is a
mystery.
Mystère is a celebration of life. From the genesis of the first life
forms to the rise of human civilizations, the driving force has always
been the vital spark of life, throbbing, struggling, reproducing, and
weaving through death and rebirth. From the infinitesimally
microscopic to the infinitely vast, from the most majestic to the most
terrifying, from the most fragile to the most powerful, all is the
making of life.
Mystère is a voyage to the very heart of life where past, present and
future merge, and all our emotions converge. Mystère is the enigma of
time, the bearer of hopes and dreams but also of tragedy. It is above
all the remembrance of time past, memories of life unfolding,
following its course and ultimately surviving against all odds.
And that includes beating the shows own development odds.
Although Steve Wynn compromised with Cirque du Soleil on the design
and construction of the Mystère Theater (which proved to be a
successful decision), and allowed Cirque to retain full creative
control over the creation of the show that would play within that
theater, doing so wasnt without reservations. The story goes that
when the show was still in its conception stage, where nothing was yet
final, Steve Wynn decided to take a gander at his gamble and watched a
rehearsal. When the house lights returned, the expression on his face
was that of controlled terror - he was not enthused. He thought the
show was too operatic, and he wanted it changed.
"It was terrible," said Steve Wynn in a 1997 interview for Forbes
magazine. "I almost wet my pants!" But Cirques creative team argued
loftily that their shows come together as performers interact with
each other and the audience. ("With Mystère, Cirque knew they were
doing something totally new in Las Vegas, and that meant breaking the
rules, doing the unexpected," Luc Lafortune remembers. "While we were
rehearsing the show, someone said the lighting was too heavy, that it
made him think of a Wagner opera. Franco and I looked at each other
and said: 'All right!' We knew we had to be on the right track.")
The creators - Franco Dragone (Director) and Gilles Ste-Croix
(Creation) - jumped to the defense of the show, and thankfully, Steve
Wynn allowed the two to continue uninhibited and in full control.
("Cirque would not dilute its brand of theater to turn Mystère into a
standard Vegas show," Gilles Ste-Croix remembered.) That decision was
a fateful one, because who could guess at this day and age, what
Mystère would have been... or if it would have been at all! Their
visions coalesced with the juices of creation. The result: a unique
story - a blend of circus and theater; of dance and darkness; and, of
life and death. Their vision consisted of a mountain and a bird -- a
story so bold and yet so fragile, exploring the human condition in a
sense that had not been done before.
That vision brought forth Mystère.
"Mystère, for me, is about life," says Franco Dragone (Spectaculara).
"We knew we were building this temple in the desert, in Las Vegas.
When you see the fragile beauty there, you can't help but ask
yourself: how did life come to this planet? Mystère, in a way, is the
story of this innocent being who is born into the universe, and then
becomes a pilgrim, exploring its history. We're always influenced by
the latest discussions and dialogues. And we were fascinated by chaos
theory: the idea that, when a butterfly flaps its wings in Argentina,
it causes a rainstorm in Europe. Everything is connected. Of course,
the mystery is never fully resolved, but maybe that is what our
pilgrim discovers."
To once again quote the show's program: "An Ancient Bird hops down the
song-lines that furrow the brow of the desert, tapping his beak the
path that only he can see clearly. Every click of the crooked bone
raises a puff of dust, a few notes, and a few memories. A shiver
ruffles his sun-worn feathers and the joy of remembrance fills him
with surprise, as always..."
"A thousand years from now, the sun sets for the billionth time on the
Nevada desert. The Ancient Bird bears witness, standing on a single
gnarled leg. As the warmth of the day ebbs away, he turns his sand-
scarred beak to the Ancient Mountain and croaks mischievously, "Do you
remember, friend?" The wind sighs down the slopes, whispering a fond
memory... when giants roamed a land where birds were still magical and
humans believed in destiny. The bird's unblinking eye hardens at the
memory of injustice. But the Mountain's warm breath whispers a
comforting word. Remember... Remember the glow of the day when a
hundred souls fused to deposit a generous gift on the desert floor; a
gift that bloomed into a cactus flower, the beauty of which touched
the world. Remember the radiance of the flower blossoming in the
desert. Remember the mystery."
The Mountain and the Ancient Bird tell us a story of humanity that is
on the brink of a new Century. It is December 31st, 1999 and the
universe is filled with the cries of three enormous babies (wait,
three? Yes! But we'll get into that next time). In thirteen brief
seconds it will either be the dawn of a new millennium "fraught with
the hopes and fears of humanity", or the beginning of the apocalypse
doomsayers of the world have predicted. As the second hands everywhere
slow to a solemn procession the whole world counts down with bated
breath... all eyes turn skyward. All the sounds of the world, all
the moments of history fuse into a few seconds. Time seems to grind
to a halt. But the true Mystery is that it never moves forward, only
in circles.
Thus the stage was set, but who would populate this new universe?
Well find out that and more next time!
----------------------------------------------------------
"Music For Advertising?"
By: Ricky Russo - Atlanta, Georgia (USA)
----------------------------------------------------------
Every once in a while an item of rarity or unique quality will cross
our desks here at Fascination that greatly piques our interest, and
we can hardly stop ourselves from dropping everything we're doing at
the moment to examine it. Indeed one of the goals throughout the
newsletter's existence has been to search for, uncover and present
some of the most peculiar, unique, fascination and bizarre things that
can be found lurking around the World Wide Web with a mysterious
connection to our favorite circus - Cirque du Soleil. And over the
past ten years we have detailed a number of interesting oddities to
hit eBay, the world's most popular online auction site, such as: a
seller auctioning a 30% off Alegría tickets hyperlink (not the
tickets, but a "special" link to a code for 30% off tickets; you can
read about that here: http://www.cirquefascination.com/?p=108),
someone attempting to sell an authentic Old Birds mask from Alegría
that turned out to be stolen when the show visited Philadelphia in
2004, someone selling a "once in a lifetime" chance to perform on-
stage with Cirque du Soleil's "O" back in 2002 (both of which you can
read about here: http://www.cirquefascination.com/?p=2033), and a
couple of promo DVDs - Quidam and Varekai - from Australia (which you
can read about here: http://www.cirquefascination.com/?p=1708)
And now I'd like to call your attention to item #170914627862 for
CIRQUE DU SOLEIL - MUSIC FOR ADVERTISING - 11 TRACKS - US PROMO.
(Listing: http://www.ebay.com/itm/170914627862).
At first glance there isn't much to find interesting about this item:
it's a compilation CD from Cirque du Soleil Musique (Cirque's music
label), put together for advertising purposes. There doesn't appear to
be any unique tracks on it - each one is available on other
commercially released albums. So what about it piqued my interest?
Besides being an unknown (to me) promo CD, it's the descriptions of
the songs that tickled me, enough that I couldn't help but share the
find. Check it out!
"Music that defies expectations," the description on the back reads.
"Swirling dances, lush orchestras, haunting melodies - music that adds
color to any project. The sounds of CIRQUE DU SOLEIL."
1) Zydeko (from Quidam) - Up-tempo, foot-stomping, accordion.
2) À La Lune (From La Nouba) - Wild Carnival Ride.
3) Aborigenes Jam (from Dralion*) - Heavy tribal with vocals,
marimba.
4) Jeux D'Enfants (from Alegria) - Lively French accordion/tube duet.
5) La Nouba (from La Nouba) - Italian wedding dance.
6) Mirko (from Alegria) - 1920's German cabaret gone wild.
7) Adagio (from Saltimbanco) - Seductive strings and vocals.
8) Saltimbanco (from Saltimbanco) - Edgy James Bond with a beat.
9) Threat (from KÀ) - Electronica; cello solo, vocal accents.
10) Valsapena (from Alegría) - Lush, exotic romantic; harp, Theremin,
vocals.
11) Ninkou Latora (from Dralion*) - Breathless action/chase.
NOTE (*): The packaging has the tracks attributed "from Violaine
Corradi" rather than the show itself, which is rather bizarre - I
change that notation for the above chart for uniformity.
So, wait...
"1920's German cabaret gone wild?"
"Wild Carnival Ride?"
"Italian Wedding Dance?"
"Edgy James Bond with a beat?"
Ooookay. Well, if you're interested in owning this particular product
(although it's for PROMOTIONAL USE ONLY / NOT FOR RESALE) you can get
it for $44.95 USD and shipped to you for free right now. We can't
guarantee anything special, other than having some of those track
descriptions in your collection, but if you're looking for something
weird associated with Cirque du Soleil, this just might fit your bill!
P.S.: Has anyone heard Cirque music in an advert recently?
----------------------------------------------------------
"ZARKANA, Now in Las Vegas!" [EXPANDED]
By: Robin Leach, A Special Reprint
----------------------------------------------------------
This is a three-part series ahead of Thursdays first night of preview
performances of the new Cirque du Soleil acrobatic spectacular
Zarkana at Aria in MGMs CityCenter. Part One is an overview of the
extraordinary production; in Part Two, well meet two of the stars;
and in Part Three, we talk with the creative directors. Robin Leach
flew to New York before the production packed up and began its trek
west to Las Vegas.
PART 1: AN OVERVIEW
-------------------
More than 1.2 million theatergoers have been awed by the surreal
acrobatic spectacle Zarkana, and it hasnt even played Las Vegas
yet. Unlike other Cirque shows created for the Strip, Zarkana was
designed for a limited run at New Yorks Radio City Music Hall, but
its extraordinary success has spread to Moscows Kremlin State Palace
Theater and Spains Madrid Arena.
Now that Viva Elvis has left the building, Zarkana is ready to
open Thursday at its new home in Aria. Its star, Zark, doesnt speak
a word of English; when I tell that part of the story Wednesday, Ill
explain how magically he still controls the entire production.
Zarkana is without doubt a visually stunning modern acrobatic
experience that many times defies logic and gravity. As our Editor at
Large John Katsilometes put it, This is a Cirque greatest-hits show.
Zarkana played New York starting in June 2011, moved to Spain in
November 2011 and then to Russia in January this year before returning
to the Big Apple for a summer run.
The load out at Radio City Musical Hall in Manhattan began Sept. 2. It
took 65 giant trucks to transport the scenery and equipment to Las
Vegas with the first truck arriving Sept. 17. The setup at Aria began
Sept. 24, and after nearly three weeks, everything was installed, with
testing of the acrobatic equipment beginning Oct. 10. Seventy people
are in the Las Vegas cast backed by a crew of 90 unseen heroes.
Cirque officials describe Zarkana as a visual vortex set in a
slightly twisted fantasy universe where chaos and craziness give way
to festivity and love regained in a fantastical and suspenseful world
that blurs boundaries between the real and imaginary. I describe it
simply: Wow! I agree with my old colleagues at the New York Post
that it is gorgeous, stunning and awe-inspiring.
The production at RCMH began with a beautiful tap-dancing juggler who
created sounds by tossing balls in the air and bouncing them off
anything close to hand. She was followed by two ladder specialists who
balanced unlike anything ever seen before and a duo of Italian lovers
hurling high colored flags in a myriad of mind-boggling maneuvers.
Your mouth will drop wide open and you may hold your stomach and stop
breathing when the Russian bar performers show their skills springing
nonstop with somersaults and twists high in the air. I dont know if
our Fire Department will permit the fire breathing that accompanies
the high-speed high-wire artists skipping on one foot on a tightrope.
I dont know if youll call for medics as you sit stunned and dizzy
watching the seven artists atop the Cyr Wheels as three others appear
to hang in the air turning through hoops.
The frenetic pace of amazement slows comfortably with a sand painter
who depicts what youve seen in the first part and prepares you for
the second part. Then its onto the 12 flying trapeze artists who work
inside three pathways and create the most incredible visual effect as
they criss-cross in flight.
As if thats not enough dangerous amazement, two Wheel of Death
artists perform high jumps over the stage while propelling the wheel
simultaneously with their own strength. There are two moments in the
production that are show stoppers: the acrobat who twists unlike any
other from one arm to another while his body performs elegant figure
ballet work and the 16 artists who create human pyramids in
synchronized sequences. There arent words to describe this.
The story line involves the magician Zark who returns to an abandoned
theater, and although his friends return to help him stage a comeback
show, hes lost his magic powers. Eventually, his assistant and love
of his life is discovered, and the magic returns. Its quite a journey
until then with the Mutant Ladies -- one of whom is the snake woman
whos reptiles wrap around the entire stage, a child who becomes a
six-armed creature inside a giant pickle jar, the tarantula spider
woman, a scientist, an extraterrestrial creatures and 15 white clowns.
Cirque spectacles with more than 1,300 performers from 50 countries
have now been seen in 300 cities on six continents. Zarkana becomes
the seventh resident show in Las Vegas following the successes of
Mystere, O, Zumanity, Ka, Love and Criss Angels Believe.
Since its debut in 1984, founder Guy Lalibertes company has sold more
than 100 million tickets.
Just where did the name Zarkana come from? Its a clever marriage of
the words bizarre and arcane meaning mystery or secret. It was
written and directed by Francois Girard, who won praise for his films
Silk and Red Violin. Well meet him Thursday.
On Wednesday, our series continues when we talk in English to the
stars who dont speak a word of it onstage. They have their very own
language, but somehow in this fantasy world of death-defying
acrobatics, it all makes sense.
PART 2: LANGUAGE
----------------
When Cirque du Soleil introduced its amazing show Zarkana to New
York, cast members spoke English, but audiences found it difficult to
follow the story. So the performers created their own circus language,
and now audiences love it.
I was really intrigued by this invented language, which, although Id
never heard it before and dont speak one word of, I fully understood
what it was saying. You will, too! I had to ask Paul Bisson, who plays
the title role of Zark the magician in search of his magical powers,
how he remembered the words to a language nobody speaks and how he
sings to the music in a language nobody recognizes.
He told me: When we first started the show in June 2011, it was in
English and a little difficult to follow the story because it is not a
Broadway show. Finally, they decided to do what we call Cirquish, a
combination of circus and English. I had been in another show before
and I wrote lyrics, so they asked me to write. It is easier for me to
remember those, but I also did rhymes.
The rhythm of the melody of the words finishing by the same sound
makes something. You dont understand what people are saying onstage,
but your ears hear something and go, Oh, OK, like an instrument. It
is cool because the audience can do its own story within our show.
If he forgets his lines one night, nobody will know, and he can
improvise with other strange words to cover. It all sounds crazy, but
it works.
Paul continued: It was important, though, that the Cirquish lyrics
were really written and followed because we have so many technical,
lighting and computer cues from the stage managers that build the
show. If I say something different, it misses. They have to understand
this language. They have all the lyrics that have been written, and
they have to follow. When we sing it, they give the proper cues.
I asked if the people in Russia thought he was speaking bad Russian
and in Madrid bad Spanish. Actress Evelyn Lamontagne, who plays the
whip-lashing temptress, said: Sometimes they think we are speaking
Italian or sometimes Portuguese. Friends of mine thought we were
speaking Spanish the whole time.
The unique concept means that Las Vegas audiences will see a show
where they wont understand one word. But they can make their own
story in their minds to accompany the thrilling onstage action,
Evelyn said. Thats the purpose. When the lyrics were in English,
people had so much to see what we were doing onstage, they got lost
trying to follow the language. Then when we switched to a language
they didnt speak, they understood the show much better because they
built their own story around the action.
Zarkana is an acrobatic rock experience. Its the most rock show
of Cirque. It blends circus arts and creates a surreal world where
physical virtues rub shoulders with the strange so you can do what you
want to do. It frees the imagination while we are required to sing
something to keep the cues on target.
Paul added: As an actor/singer with those Cirquish words, I am always
improvising. I can feel it at the moment. I can play with it, I can
slide the melody, but if it were in English, I would have to follow it
word for word. Musically, it is more interesting with Cirquish.
Paul is familiar with Las Vegas. He starred as Quasimodo in 1999s
The Hunchback of Notre Dame at the Paris when it opened. Evelyn was
the acrobatic character of Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds in The
Beatles Love at the Mirage.
I asked her what she loved about Zarkana: Everything! I love it
all. I love my role of a little girl who thinks she can rock the world
and everybody will listen to her. I like that every day is different.
Every day we play within each other, so improvisation is part of it,
too.
Creating this character, I watched a lot of cartoons because on the
huge stage, you need to be a little exaggerated, as well. There is a
lot of amusement, and its all imagination. It is so different than
Love, which is more acrobatics, and here I am more acting.
Both performers have been with Zarkana since it was created. Paul
commented: This show compared to other Cirque shows has off-the-wall
characters, so we can improvise. Each show, I will play with her and
interact with her; we do something different each time. This is rare
because you usually have a really specific track to follow. Of course
we have a track because we cannot be on the stage if we dont, but
with the interactions, it is always something improvised.
If there is a big technical problem, you wont see it. I can be
onstage all by myself, but I have the bandleader talking to me. They
say, OK, Paul you need to stay on the stage for 1 or 2 minutes, the
curtain is not going to drop. Sometimes if I have somebody that I
know in the house, I will put his or her name in the song!
Both artists told me the staging is so overwhelming, it would be
impossible to pick a favorite act. They said they still marvel at the
skills after two years.
Evelyn said: The clowns always get a huge ovation because they work
with a different audience every night. The singers improvise each
night, too. The last act -- the banquine -- always has audiences in
disbelief. They all say its not possible to do what is done. (This
is where 16 artists create mind-blowing human pyramids in spectacular
synchronized sequences.)
Paul interjected: As Zark, each time I am onstage, it is a new life
for me. I still havent done the same thing two times in a row. I give
everything I can to make people understand that I am presenting
something theyve never experienced before. The banquine really
impresses me every night.
The Aria theater is much smaller than their past run at New Yorks
Radio City Music Hall: 1,800 seats vs. 6,000. They are looking forward
to being closer to the audience. We can play not as big as we had to
in Manhattan, Paul said. Audiences will see our facial expression
better. As actors, being close to the public is a gift. It will be an
added rush.
The cast is looking forward to a long run here. Evelyn laughed: In
Moscow, we were in minus 30 weather, so we will be able to get our two
days off and go out to Lake Mead, Red Rock and take a road trip to Los
Angeles.
Paul summed up: At Aria, we will do two shows a night for five nights
a week, so a total of 10 shows. It was super great in Moscow, Madrid
and New York -- traveling all around the world. For some people,
though, that have a family; they are happy not to be living out of
suitcases all the time.
On Thursday, our three-part series concludes with my interviews with
the creative and directing team as previews for Zarkana begin at
Aria.
PART 3: ACROBATICS
------------------
Zarkana is the biggest of Cirque du Soleils productions to date,
and writer and director Francois Girard, known for his previous movie
and onstage opera successes, says hes worked for a year on the Las
Vegas version of the show, which has thrilled 1 million-plus people in
New York, Moscow and Madrid.
I met Francois and artistic director Ann-Marie Corbell, who lives here
in Las Vegas, when I saw the show at New York Citys Radio City Music
Hall. They head a creative team of 14 designers responsible for
lighting, choreography, acrobatics, rigging, costumes, makeup, sets,
props and musical composition.
Francois told me: The casting of the performers played a big role in
the storytelling. Our casting machine at Cirque is very important,
with a lot of people traveling the world to find exceptional acts. We
have adjusted the show to a 90-minute format for Vegas. There will be
no 15-minute intermission and a minor trim to the running time of New
York. It makes it more efficient and more exciting.
The life of Zarkana had nothing to do with the closing of [Viva
Elvis]. We were in New York, Russia and Spain, so it was a corporate
decision at the top of Cirque and MGM to bring it to Vegas. Our
contribution is to make the show as strong as possible. We are here
pushing the performances, the poetry and constantly improving
everything. We worked on some new music with a Vegas twist, too, for a
straps act.
This is the most rock show of Cirque. It is meant to be loud. The
writing of the music was a large part in the writing of the show. It
is music wall to wall. It works for me where the acrobatic skeleton
would be as essential as the musical skeleton, and this is the
foundation of the show for me. The invented Cirquish language is a
combination of things. You can hear a little bit of English, a little
bit of Italian, a little bit of Spanish. It is almost rock opera, non-
lyric based, but there is a meaning about everything that is sung.
We started out with English, but it was not fully executing, so we
went to the invented language. We will not go back to English for the
Vegas run. We wont convert it or translate it. We have the right
balance now. This show is character-based and not story-based. It is a
formula that has been well proven from the early days of Cirque.
There have been all sorts of experiments, but as soon as you start
pushing a story, you clash with the flow of acrobatics. We had to give
room for characters to grow, so no matter what we did, the acrobatic
always came first. The work of the team is primarily to put the
acrobats in the best light.
The acrobats come first because this is a circus show, and the prime
content is acrobatic performance. Then I come with a team of
designers, and we created characters. We tried to bring the world that
would support the performance the best, but at every given moment, my
work and the work of my colleagues is to make the artist and the
acrobats shine in the best light.
When Guy Laliberte first invited me to come and work at Cirque, I was
not of that culture, so the first thing I did was to see all the
shows. The conflict between narratives and acrobatics became really
clear for me. Now, I am a storyteller. I do theater and I write films.
If you take the example of Love, what Dominic Champagne did was
impeccable. He didnt get caught in the life story of the Beatles, and
they created a show that, in my sense, is one of the strongest of
Cirques shows. Mystere is the quintessential character-based show.
It is a show that pops characters out, they live, they have their
circulation, they have an arc, and it is a flow. Also, the crucial and
great lesson from Mystere is how the acrobatic and drama merge into
the invisible border. There is a flow in Mystere and Zarkana that
merges dramatic and acrobatic in the least visible way.
Our biggest challenge was starting out at Radio City Music Hall. Its
a beautiful theater, but lets say it is unforgiving, it is the most
difficult theater in the world for its size. Radio City is a wonderful
legend. It has lots of ghosts and is a legendary place. I am really
pleased that we played there, but it is a very difficult venue. It is
a theater too big for theater.
We will be able to do everything that we did at Radio City in Vegas.
I think Aria will be a much easier venue for the intimacy. It is
smaller seating [1,800 at Aria vs. 5,000 at RCMH], and people will be
a lot closer to the action.
Ann-Marie said: You are trying to single out acts, but the process is
to fuse them into one experience. If there are 10 acts in a show, its
our job to make it one journey whatever the number. Cirque always
leaves the audience with an impression of a world that exists even
beyond the live experience.
Five years later, you remember it is a world of poetry and human
performance, and it relies on the wow factor of certain acts, but it
is a successful merging of a number of acts and artists, music, set
design and theater poetry that makes it a memorable experience as a
whole.
Francois, who says $55 million was spent on the first staging the
show, added: When people see Zarkana, I want them leaving with
their heart engraved with the esthetics and the human energy from the
show. There is an emotional space, in awe of the artists and their
performances, but if we got them to a place that they havent visited
before and some of it can stay with them, then we really succeed.
It seems to me that Zarkana is a great fit for Aria. There are no
other places that have that stage opening, so it is a good physical
fit right there. Nobody has pulled off the scale of this production
anywhere before. Its very defining. We are pushing the limits of what
an indoor theater experience can be, even beyond the border, in my
opinion.
It has been a very expensive show and very expensive to travel. There
are touring shows, tent shows and permanent shows. This show was meant
to be in between that with a permanent-like apparatus that you can
collapse and fit into 54 trucks. Thats not too bad, but when you put
it onto 747s, it becomes hard.
We have been very successful at filling all the theaters with our
large touring show, but it was difficult, and it needed a home. I am
the first one happy to see that we lived the experience, and I am the
first one happy to see that the show has a permanent home in Vegas.
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COPYRIGHT AND DISCLAIMER
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Fascination! Newsletter
Volume 12, Number 11 (Issue #106) - November 2012
"Fascination! Newsletter" is a concept by Ricky Russo. Copyright (c)
2001-2012 Ricky Russo, published by Vortex/RGR Productions, a
subsidiary of Communicore Enterprises. No portion of this newsletter
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{ Nov.05.2012 }
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